Baseball Gloves and Dad

Last week I visited my Dad in Wheeling. His girlfriend's son, Max, had a baseball game. Max is the team catcher, and as any kid can be, a little forgetful at times. We got to the game...he climbed out of the car and ran to the dugout. My Dad and I were standing at the fence, catching up and talking about the game...when he looked at me and said, "Why is Max in the outfield with no glove?" So we walked over to the dugout, and proceeded to ask where his glove was. Max had forgot it. He had no clue where it was. It wasn't in his bag or in the car. The other team had heard what was going on, and their coaches came over to try and help...giving Max a glove to try. He had quite a few gloves to pick from...but he didn't want any of them. He wanted his glove. He didn't want to change...and would rather not play, than to accept the new glove. After some good old fashioned coaxing by my Dad, Max picked a glove (that he swore was too big) and a few minutes later, he was on the field. Playing with his new glove. The one that he was certain wouldn't work and was too big. But my Dad was there...nudging him along...trying to show him that there would be something that he would be missing out on if he didn't accept this new glove. This change. And he was right! Max played awesome and had so much fun...but I'd like to think he also learned a lesson. The same lesson that we all need to learn. Change isn't fun. Trying new things can be scary. Leaving jobs and people is most of the time down right sad and frightening. But when we do those things...there are new and exciting experiences to be had. Experiences that we would have otherwise missed out on. Just like my Dad was trying to teach Max this lesson...our Father is also wanting us to learn it. Nudging us along the way...wanting us to see that there is more than we can fathom waiting for us if we'd only take a leap and make a change. I'd like to think that Max learned this lesson. And hopefully the lesson of not forgetting your beloved glove.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Happy Father's Day to the man that is my hero...

Can't get enough...

Of this song...

Draw Me Nearer - Meredith Andrews

For Your nearness, Lord, I hunger

For Your nearness, Lord, I wait

Hold me ever closer Father

With such a love I can't escape

For Your nearness I am hoping

For Your nearness, Lord, I long

I have no need of any other

I have found where I belong

I have found where I belong

So draw me nearer, Lord

Never let me go

Closer to Your heart

Draw me nearer, Lord

Draw me nearer, Lord

In Your nearness there is healing

What was broken now made whole

Restoration in its fullness

Lasting hope for all who come

In Your nearness I take shelter

Where You are is where I'm home

I have need of only one thing

To be here before Your throne

To be here before Your throne

So draw me nearer, Lord

Never let me go

Closer to Your heart

Draw me nearer, Lord

Keep me here

Keep me here

There's nowhere else I'd rather be

So draw me nearer, Lord

Never let me go

Closer to Your heart

Draw me nearer, Lord

Mythbusters

I was watching Mythbusters the other day. It was the one where they were debating the huge water slide launch into a teeny tiny pool, and the package delivery truck saving gas by only making right hand turns. The slide launch...I want one in my backyard. I don't think they have enough adult water slides in random places. Shouldn't there be an emergency slide out of work? And instead of a fire escape...picture a water slide.

The delivery truck company was making the case that instead of traveling the direct route to a destination...only taking right hand turns would save time and gas consumption because they wouldn't be sitting idle at the traffic lights waiting to turn left. Which, in theory, could make sense. But, as it turns out, is not faster nor gas efficient...even though it was close. Close enough to take a second look...and close enough for a major company to use this as everyday practice.

Think of computer programs. They are full of shortcuts, and shortcuts for the original shortcuts. Competent, intelligent people who put shortcuts on their home screen to save time. Why are we so obsessed with saving time? Maybe because we are filling our time with things that we subconsciously know don't matter. Sitting in traffic, sitting in a meeting, waiting in line at Starbucks, waiting for the Comcast guy, being put on hold with a customer service rep who doesn't speak English, facebooking, blogging, texting, chatting, googling...the list goes on.

Are we trying to save time from all these things...or for these things?

Now, I'm not trying to say that we save time for the customer service guy. But facebooking, texting, watching tv...yea, probably. There's nothing wrong with those things (I remind myself as I stare at the basket of laundry haunting me as I blog) but are we filling the rest of our time with things that really mean something? Like building our relationship with Christ? Spending our time in prayer, in fellowship, in His Word? What price are we paying by taking the shorter route...by only making right hand turns...by adding shortcuts to our hard drives?

If we have our eyes on only the end result...on only the finish line...on only the destination drop-off, we are missing the big picture. The journey, the process, the day to day issues and trials we face are being left behind. They are things that we just try and 'get through.' But guess what...

There is no shortcut to your relationship with God.

There is only the path that He chooses for you. And that path includes some waiting. Some standing in line. Some being put on hold. But no matter how long we wait or think we are put on hold...He is always there. Guiding our walk with Him. There is something that you have to learn in that holding period. Something that He needs to tell you. Something that He needs to show you. Something He needs to teach you. And He's there. Waiting for you. Standing in line. Being put on hold.

Let's stop putting Him on hold...and dive into the life that He yearns for us to have. And live the best life we can...in His glory. In His likeness. In His word. He's there...waiting.


Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.
Psalm 37:7-9

Satisfaction

sat·is·fac·tion
n.
1. the act of satisfying or state of being satisfied
2. the fulfilment of a desire
3. the pleasure obtained from such fulfilment
4. a source of fulfilment

I am really good at spelling. I think I always have been. When I was a little girl, I can remember being in multiple spelling bees, in front of lots of people. I dreaded being in front of crowds then, and still do. But although it was something that I disliked, profusely, I did it. Because it brought me satisfaction and happiness...and I knew I could do it.

When you have something that you are good at...a gift...you want to share it with the world and show people that it brings you fulfilment. That it brings you a sense of satisfaction. That you feel, even for a short season, you have a purpose. We all have gifts. They are very different, and come in lots of wide-ranging colors, shapes, and sizes. Some have a gift for animals, hospitality, the sick, kids, teaching, ministering, public speaking...even spelling. Whatever our gift, whether it can be seen by many or only known to a few, we should realize that it is given by God and use them wisely. A friend of mine has the amazing gift to make people feel welcome. She knows just what to say and when to say it. She can light up the face of the darkest person within minutes. I'm not even sure she's aware of the preciousness and prized value of this within her. But it's there. It's there because God knew that she would do wonders with it. She shows God's grace to hurting people with unusual passion. I am blessed to call her friend!

Take stock of your talents. We're all needed. We're all important. It is from the small and simple things that great things are brought to pass. Thank the Lord for the gifts you've been given, use them to the best of your abilities and God can do great things through you – even if you never see the full ramifications of your efforts in this life.

The gift of healing may come to one person and enable them to be a great doctor. With another, the gift of healing may enable them to have a calming effect on those who are troubled emotionally or mentally. They may have the gift to lift spirits and heal minds and hearts.

"The real power comes when we each use our unique talents and work symbiotically with others to build the kingdom."

It's time we started building each other up so that we can each be the best we can be. Building God's kingdom is a team effort, and that means each of us needs to be doing our best and cheering on our teammates! Assess your own talents and abilities, and then look for ways you can love and lift others. He has given you a gift. Strive to explore that gift...learn to think like God, and accomplish what He desires. Find out the purpose for which He sent it.

For my thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord.
As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher
than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return
to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth;
It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish
what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Isaiah 55:8-11

incourage.me

I love this website...and found these beautiful plates!

Now I just have to re-do my kitchen to match....



I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 89:1

Get Up!

This morning, I did not want to get up. It was 6:55...and I had already hit snooze five times. I was now awake, but just didn't want to move. Ever have one of those days? Where you know you need to get up and get moving, but you just can't find the effort it requires? When I was laying there, the effort that it was going to require for me to start my day and get in gear felt so great. I did not want to rise from my comfy, warm bed. But we all know what happens once we do. It's not so bad...and not so hard. All you have to do is swing your legs off the bed...and stand up.

While reading through Acts 9 this morning, I heard...again...the words, "Get Up!" This phrase occurs many times, with all different settings.

On the road to Damascus, Saul was crushed to the ground by a blazing light and a surprising voice. After the Lord identified himself as Jesus, His first command to Saul was, "Now get up."

And then Peter instructed Aeneas, the paralytic in Lydda, to "get up and take care of your mat," after declaring, "Jesus Christ heals you."

In Joppa, a much loved saint named Tabitha had died. Peter went to the upstairs room where she had been put. After he knelt and prayed, he turned to the dead woman and said, "Tabitha, get up."

Now, to 'get up' can have a few meanings. It can be used in the sense of waking someone up from sleep, to rise from a flat position if someone was sick, but the deeper meaning of the root word is so insightful. It is the same root word used for resurrection - meaning to arise from the dead.

Do you feel spiritually asleep? Maybe even dead? Most of us are found at some time or another like Saul. Needing to be resurrected from the entrapment of our sin. God requires our immediate obedience...and to get up and get moving towards Him!

"What shall I do, Lord?" I asked.
"'Get up,' the Lord said, 'and go..'
Acts 22:10

We may not know where to go, or what to do, but nothing is too big or too great for God! Especially when it comes to turning one of the most hostile opponents of the Lord into a willing servant. He has the ability to save anyone. The challenge is to not be deceived by self-satisfaction...as Saul was pretty content with his life. Stop being content with your life as it is now! Turn to God...and enjoy the abundance of His grace.

"Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed."
Luke 8:50

Just move your feet...God will guide you where to go.

My Fractured Foot

About 2 years ago, I fell. Surprise, surprise my friends would say. I fall alot. I fall often. Thankfully, I am vertically challenged so I don't have too far to fall. When I fell, I fractured my foot. And aside from wearing a very ugly shoe for awhile, it looks perfect. But I can still feel it sometimes. That foot has never been the same. If I wear heels for too long, only that foot gets swollen. The doctor said it was healed. It looks healed. But I know it's there. I can feel it.

I think about my foot...and realize that even though it was healed, it is still a problem for me. It is still an issue that I have, and will probably always have. But it was something that I could not heal on my own. Oh, I tried. I tried icing it, not walking on it, but eventually I had to see the doctor. I couldn't do it by myself.

Just like I couldn't heal my foot by myself, you can't heal the issues in your life by yourself. You can try, and believe me we all do. We think that we can handle things on our own. We are prideful and determined to be independent and take care of it. We depend solely on our sheer will. But just like the break of a bone, sometimes things don't heal correctly. Sometimes they need to be re-broken. And it hurts. The issues that you face in your life that need to be 're-broken' hurt. It's not easy. But it's during those times that we need to learn to lean on God, and depend on only Him. Just because you face difficult times, doesn't mean you are out of the Will of God. God will break you. That brokenness that you are feeling and going through...pushes us to God. So He allows it. He encourages it. He wants it. He knows we need it. We need it to know Him more. We need it to show others His Grace. His love. His mercy. That He is the ultimate Healer. Which is why we should not be worried and anxious during these times.

That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:10

The only thing left to do is humble yourself. Humble yourself before The Lord and know that His knowledge for your life is greater than anything you could imagine. I mean, remember who we're talking about here! The God of the universe! He has helped you before, He will help you now, and will continue to.

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Mark 11:24

"But prayer really works. It changes things. It moves mountains. Have faith, because God is faithful. Trust Him, because He is trustworthy. Focus on the spiritual battle that's more real than what we see, hear, and feel. Call upon the Father who loves you, and persist until you see Him move. He will. He promised." - Janet Folger

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Isaiah 41:10