Thursday, November 1, 2007 - Using a Flashlight?
My husband and I enjoy the ‘CSI’ type shows, including all the CSI’s, NCIS, Closed Case, Criminal Minds, and Numbers. We like following the evidence and trying to guess who done it. We have noticed, though, that throughout all these shows is a puzzling behavior. These supposedly educated and very intelligent crime solvers all seem to lack the natural instinct to turn on a light. What’s up with searching crime scenes with a flashlight? Is this purely for dramatic purposes or do real crime scene investigators use flashlights to look for evidence? Has the power been cut in all the crime scenes? We understand looking under the bed or in a dark closet with a flashlight, but what about when the clues are in the range of a lamp? Does turning on a light destroy valuable evidence? Do the investigators choose to remain in the darkness for the fear of what they will see? It makes one ponder.
Sometimes we approach our walk with our Father like those investigators, using a flashlight to seek Him. While this is a wonderfully useful tool when searching the farthest reaches of our life, there has to be easier way. God is referred to as our Light throughout Scripture. I just can’t picture Him as a tiny flashlight. To me, I think He is much brighter and more illuminating. Examining His Word using the light that He has placed in us through our salvation in Christ seems so much simpler. (John 8:12) And while the Light is within us, this Light should brighten the paths around us so that others may see evidence of Him. (Matthew 5:14-16) The simple fact that there is no darkness in the Light should be of great comfort to us when we are seeking His guidance. His Ways are clear. So maybe we should put down our flashlights and turn on the Light.
The next time you are watching any of the aforementioned crime dramas, see if you notice the same thing that we have.
John 3:19-21
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
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Tuesday, October 23, 2007 - Fear
Next week, some families will participate in festivities connected to Halloween. Just the word Halloween conjures up images of costume clad people, pumpkins, candy, fun and games. But it also brings to mind other images of witches, ghosts and goblins. Whatever your opinion of the holiday is, there seems to be a prevailing theme of fear. Some fear that if they participate in the traditions of Trick or Treating or Fall Festivals that they are disobeying God. Others fear that their children will be missing out on the fun of dressing up and playing games. Still others are concerned that they are losing out on the opportunity to take a pagan holiday and use it to minister to others. And then there are those on the opposite spectrum who just love the adrenaline rush of having the living daylights scared out of them at the haunted houses and trails. All of these have to do with fear.
Some fears stand as warnings to keep us from danger. These are formed from our experience and education. But some fears keep us from our purpose in Him. Fear is the number one tool the enemy uses to attack us. Fear is about the future, our perceptions of what will happen. Because I did this, God will be angry. Because I did that, I’m not a good Christian. Because I lack, how could God use me? What will others think of me if I do this or that? These and many more are all weapons the enemy uses to keep us from getting closer to God and seeing His will for our lives. When Adam and Eve went against God and tried to hide from Him in their fear, what did He do? Did He ignore them or destroy them? No. He came to them. Adam confessed his sin and God responded. Even after their sin, He provided for them and made Himself known to them. Sin did not change God; it changed us. Our Father is still as loving and compassionate as He was in the beginning. So, why let fear dictate our destiny in Him? Why succumb to the wounds that the enemy wants to put on us? What if we mess up and things don't turn out as we planned? God can fix it if we are trying to be in His will. If we don't step out in faith because of fear, how will we ever get to know Him and His will for our lives. If we dwell in Him, fear cannot have control. Psalm 91 states this best.
Try not to get caught up in the debate over whether it is okay to participate in Halloween activities or not. He uses all kinds of people and situations for His will. Arguing the points or condemning someone for theirs just gives the enemy the opportunity to promote fear and to get a foot in the door. When you seek His will in your life you can make your decisions based on Him and not based on the fear. Seek Him in everything you do and the enemy cannot steal your security.
1 John 4:15-18- Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
If you are looking for what others are teaching about the whole Halloween thing, here are some websites to check out.
New Horizon-A Turning Point Ministry
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Thursday, September 13, 2007 - An Unsung Profession
I’d like to talk about an unsung profession. I am married to a truck driver and I’d like to tell you a little about his normal day. I wake my husband everyday at 4:30 a.m. to go to work. He gets up, dresses, makes his coffee, packs a lunch, and is out the door usually by 4:45. My husband began his career in 1977 when he was 17 years old and joined the Army to be a truck driver. Over the years he has hauled just about everything and pulled just about every type of trailer. He has hauled military vehicles for the Army, steel on flat bed to build structures and cars, food and household goods in dry vans, railroad containers and refrigerated trailers to help the homemakers, and he now hauls cryogenic tankers with liquid oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, or argon so that our hospitals and factories can provide necessary services. In his own words he has driven more miles backwards than most of us have driven forward. He has been in every state and has made deliveries in some of the biggest cities and the tiniest of towns. He has seen all kinds of things in his travels. He is the Good Samaritan who has helped countless stranded motorists change a tire, get assistance after an accident or simply provide good directions to the lost traveler. In a normal day he will drive about 400 miles and be gone from home anywhere from 14 hours to an overnight stay somewhere. Despite the long hours and the industry frustrations, he loves what he does.
I’d like to share a few things I have learned in regards to what it is like for them out there.
- They are doing a necessary job. Without them we would not be able to go to our local store to get that loaf of bread or gallon of milk. Our vehicles’ tanks would remain empty and homes would not be built or repaired.
- The road is their office and the truck is their briefcase.
- Trucks are big. That’s way they are called “Big Rigs”. This may go without saying but it’s amazing how little space cars will give them and expect the truck to maneuver.
- Trucks cannot start or stop the way a car can. Try pulling an empty wagon and work your way around the house. Then put all your kids in it. Same concept. They need space. If something darts into the path of one of these things, it isn’t pretty.
- Truck drivers are not going to get rich doing what they do; most are paid by the mile or the load. They do it because they love it.
- They tend to be jacks-of-all trades. They are mechanics, delivery people, tour guides, bookkeepers (you should see the paperwork), and roadside missionaries.
- Truck drivers are watched and monitored very closely and have to keep track of everything they do. How many people working from their vehicles keep a log of the hours they drive and work and are scrutinized?
- A large majority of the drivers I have met are God loving family people just trying to make a living like everyone else.
I’m not saying that all truck drivers are these wonderfully sweet people. There are not so nice people in every profession. I’m just asking that the next time you are frustrated because you are behind a slow moving tractor trailer or you think that you’ve been cut off by a driver trying to turn a corner, try to have some compassion and say a prayer for his safe return home. He just may be the husband who has a family waiting for his return.
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Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - On Resting
As we were heading for ice-skating yesterday, my son remarked that I was different this week. He commented on how I seemed more patient and wasn’t speaking as loudly as I had before. He said that I was happier and not mad at everything. I was humbled by his observations and a little disturbed by the fact that that was how I was presenting myself to my children. For the most part, I view myself as a happy-go-lucky personality with a fair amount of patience. What a rude awakening his comments were. I think the change is due to having a time of relaxation and renewal of the mind, body, and spirit. As I thought about his words, I realized that my husband seemed more calm and less stressed about things also. It dawned on me that we were doing our children a great disservice by not taking regular time to rejuvenate ourselves. We get so absorbed in schooling, work and responsibilities that we have forgotten to give it a rest. In Genesis 2:2-3, God rested from His work. What makes us think that we can keep on doing so much without resting? God made it perfectly clear that we are to rest on the seventh day. (Exodus 20:9-11; 31:13-17; 34:21; 35:2, Leviticus 23:3) Our ‘free-times’ are filled with catching up on things left undone. How often do we actually sit and do nothing? I don’t know about you but the nothing times are so rare that I wouldn’t recognize them. The 24-7 factor has to be removed. We need to re-energize ourselves by taking some do nothing days. I seriously don’t think that the world will stop revolving if we enter into rest once a week. Do we ever really ‘catch-up’ on things left undone during the week? If we don’t make time to rest, as my son so kindly made me aware, we become people we aren’t even aware that we have become.
Psalm 62:1-2 (NIV)
My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
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Monday, July 16, 2007 - Memory Pack Rat
I am a memory pack rat. I have saved and stored away cards, letters, ticket stubs, church bulletins, programs, newspaper articles and various trinkets from my life. After I got married, I began to save mementos for my husband and children. I used to keep them in my cedar chest but the volume of over 40 years and 4 other people has long out grown the chest. I have graduated to a plastic tub for each member of the family. The cedar chest now holds some of my most prized treasures; the Christening gown my parents used for all four of their children, my wedding dress that was actually an 80’s prom dress that I bought on clearance for $20, my oldest son’s dedication suit, the outfit I brought both my sons home from the hospital in and the one my daughter wore. There also is a light orange crochet bunting and matching booties that my daughter’s namesake made for my oldest son. This wonderful friend never got to see my other children because she died from a brain aneurysm the week before my oldest turned a year old. There is a tattered quilt made by my Memèré, and a baby blanket given to my mother for me when I was born. Among the paper items are stories, poems, and artwork I had created in my younger days. I still have report cards from elementary school. There are dairies and journals chronicling my everyday life and emotions from long forgotten times. Whenever I touch a card or letter from someone who is no longer part of my life, I am taken back and the sweet memories remind me of the many blessings I have had. My children have followed in my ‘memory pack rat’ ways, filling their tubs with the things that will remind them of their own blessings. From time to time we look over these items and the many more stored for safekeeping and our hearts are filled. Their stories are told and we reflect on how good God is.
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Thursday, June 7, 2007 - T.V. Talent Shows
I’ve always been a fan of talent shows. I enjoy the variety and being exposed to talents that would otherwise go unseen. However I have some mixed feelings about what television has been producing as of late when it comes to the various “talent show” venues. It seems to me that they take great pleasure in embarrassing, ridiculing and belittling people. Even though they eventually weed out those who lack the expected giftedness, I am having a hard time understanding the need to parade them in front of millions of viewers. I don’t understand the point of breaking down and humiliating someone, perhaps even killing their spirits, week after week. I’m sure that some of those people are aware this is a chance they take, but I don’t see the benefit of cruel and blunt criticism. Why do they put people they know they are going to reject on their shows in the first place? Ratings? I shudder to think that millions of viewers tune in just for the bashings. What does this say about the viewing public? I know I’m naïve, but I would rather see talent nurtured and developed so that it can be used for God’s glory instead of the malicious pleasure some take in beating someone down. That’s not to say that those that lack obvious talent should be coddled, I just think there are better ways to handle those situations than the way television is doing publicly. We may be losing out on seeing some truly gifted people perform for their fear that they won’t measure up. I understand that it is a competition, but I think it would serve the public better to put talents of the same caliber together instead of what is being presented to us now. I think God’s kingdom can be better served if words of compassion are spoken more often than the bitterness of scorn.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Colossians 4:5-6 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
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Monday, May 28, 2007 - Memorial Day
Just a quick post for today.
Here are a few websites pertaining to Memorial Day.
In Memory of our Honored Dead has history, poetry, observance ettiquette and other information pertaining to Memorial Day.
The History Channel has a lot of information and resources here about Memorial Day. Be sure to check out the videos. They are very interesting.
Pastiche Family Portal has patriotic coloring pages here for the United States, Canada, and Australia.
I want to send out prayers to all the families of the men and women of our Armed forces who have lost loved ones while serving us. Your sacrifice is immensely appreciated and we will never forget. Thank-you to those who have served, are serving and will serve. Words cannot express the sincere gratitude we feel in our hearts for you! May God bless you all and God Bless America!
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Monday, April 23, 2007 - Beyond Four Walls
The end of the school year is always hard. Aside from the rush to finish the year’s goals, the weather has turned warm and sunny days call to us. The kids seem more distracted and schoolwork is the last thing on their minds. This is not a phenomenon exclusive to homeschoolers. When I was teaching, I observed the same behavior among all my students, elementary and high school. The solution is obvious- move class outdoors. Living in the south we are privy to more good weather than bad. My kids often pack up their schoolwork and will sit outside on the back porch in the fresh air and sunshine. Sometimes we’ll go to a local park or historical site and enjoy what is offered there. Nature is a wonderful classroom. One might think that moving from the usual classroom situation would be more distracting, but I have found the opposite to be true. They seem more motivated to complete their tasks so they can enjoy the beauty of the day. The blessing of schooling at home is flexibility. Public school teachers are bound by set-in-stone rules and regulations that limit their resources. I think maybe that is why so many families have turned to homeschooling. We are free to teach our children all of God's wonder. We recognize that the world is truly a classroom, and that learning can take place anywhere in any situation and is not confined to four walls.
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Tuesday, April 17, 2007 - Which Nest is Best?
The birds in my neighborhood are such interesting creatures. My yard is scattered with various forms of birdhouses, however we have yet to find anything except for beehives built in them. Following directions from a variety of resources, we have carefully constructed houses to exact specifications. We have located these dwellings in safe places, trying to create homes that would be inviting to our fine-feathered friends, but there are no takers. Instead we have found nests in every other location other than the birdhouses.
One of their favorite places is in our garage. We have found them in a hand-held seed spreader, a winter boot stored on a shelf and, to the sad demise of one family, in an old ice cream bucket we used to store sidewalk chalk. I had no idea of its contents and accidentally spilled it to the garage floor, shattering the fragile eggs. I was heartbroken. There have been nests found in the hanging plants on the front porch and we have seen them in the traditional places among the braches of the bushes and trees that surround our home. But this year we have found the most opportunistic bird yet. She has built her nest in the bird feeder still filled with seed.
As I thought about these creatures I was struck. Are we like the many birds that ignore the carefully made home in the arms of our Father in search of something better? Have we placed ourselves in the seed spreader, but not allowed ourselves to spread His Word? Are we hiding deep in the boot, dark and fearful of discovery? Is our life like the ice cream bucket nest, easily shattered? Can we compare ourselves to the nests in the flowerpots, displaying one thing on the outside, but harboring the fear of drowning on the inside? Do we remain in the comfort zone of the bushes and trees, only appearing when we are safe? Or are we like the clever bird, building our nest in the open upon the Food of God, chasing away those that might try to steal our seeds and whose song is clear and loud? Which nest are we?
Psalm 84:3 Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young- a place near Your altar, O Lord Almighty, my King and my God.
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Friday, March 16, 2007 - Progress Report
Our state requires homeschoolers to keep progress reports in our files, so yesterday I used Homeschool Tracker , to easily create one for each of my children. I was surprised by their grades. They didn’t seem to be doing as well as I wanted and I thought that their grades would reflect my fears. However, I was mistaken. According to their grades, all A’s and B’s, they are doing fine. I’m not a big advocate of testing or grades, and I could use a pass/fail system, but I want to prepare them for the colleges that use a grading system to determine the mastery of materials. I often feel like we are not doing so well when we hit areas that seem difficult for them. What I expect from my children may be unrealistic for their ages. I fall into the trap of comparing them to others, a topic of which I had written about earlier. I read about kids who seem brilliant; reading at an early age, math whizzes, geography bee winners, being able to recall all matter of information at the drop of a hat, mini-Mozarts, and all sorts of other outstanding achievements. I wonder what we can do to achieve those same things. Then I stop and realize that they have gifts that may not be as visible as academic success. For the most part they do their best. They are tender and kindhearted. The things that they are interested in they know inside and out. They seem to be learning what they need to know to function in this world and they know the most important thing of all, of God’s love. So, perhaps my focus should be less on what I consider what they aren’t doing and more on what they are doing and find a balance between the two.
Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
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