05/26/14

Today marks the official beginning of the summer season.

I am ready for summer.

I am thankful for the warm days and sunny skies.

I am trying to enjoy sweating.  :P

Summertime is a time of working in the yard, going on vacations (a lot of times, the beach), having cookouts, no school, relaxation, and a respite from the world.

As I reflect on the summer months, the Lord has honed in on something with me in the last couple of days and He has compelled me to "chew" on it.  Please allow me to share from my heart....

The Lord has been dealing with me on the topic of my body being His temple.

How does my body being His temple and summertime mesh together?  Stay with me:

My body is now His temple because the Holy Spirit came to live within me the moment I asked Christ to save me from my sins.  The temple is not the church building, but the believers themselves.

With my body being His temple, how I use it is either to glorify Him as my Lord or to show others I am no different from this world in which we live.   

I am a work in progress, as each of you are, so please take these points the Lord has been showing me as a way to "chew" on things in your own life.  This is only coming from a heart that is desiring to become more like Christ.

1.  How I dress.
In this world of ours, we are shown the latest and greatest fashions of the day.  We are bombarded with low cut, high cut, and everywhere in between.  I do not want to live back in the ages of wearing extremely long dresses, petticoats and corsets and that if my ankles show I am offensive. However, I know that how I dress is a reflection of my Temple of the Lord.

I want to be covered.  I want to look appropriate.

Short shorts, low-cut shirts, high-rise shirts.... what do people think when they see you walking down the street?  Modesty does not mean frumpiness and culottes.

Let's think of beachwear.  Ooohh... yeah, sore subject.

Would you wear a bikini to church?  As a Christian, your body is God's Temple and you are a reflection of Him... even in that itsy-bitsy-teeny-weeny-yellow-polkadot-bikini.  What does that say to others?

Let's face it, it's no different than your underwear.  It just comes in cute colors and designs.

What are you sending out to young men who are trying to keep their eyes/hearts pure?  Having a teenage son now has opened my eyes to this even more.  He struggles when he sees girls in revealing bathing suits and it bothers him.

There are plenty of bathing suits out there that are appropriately made and I am not talking about these, either:

Check out this link to Rey Swimwear.  They are adorable and fashionable without revealing everything.  There are plenty of places to find ones less revealing that are in your price budget.


2.  What I choose to put inside my body.
Having been on my weight loss journey, this has become more and more important to me.  However, it is not just for those who are trying to lose weight.

How does it look when you have gone back for that fifth plate of mounding food at the summer picnic?  We need to be careful about our gluttonous moments.  What is your outward weight showing others?  This is something that is hit home to me.  I know there are those out there who struggle and have reasons as to why the weight is there, but what if it is truly because you excuse it saying you just "love to eat?"  How is that being a keeper of your Temple of the Lord?

How about what you drink?  Ooooh.... there I go again... another sore subject.

I know of many people who think social drinking as believers in Christ is just fine.  I am not here to condemn or judge.  I just want to give you something on which to think.

What does that alcoholic drink in your hand show others about your Temple of the Lord?

Does that image truly draw others to Christ?  Can you see how it can be a stumbling block for someone else to come to Christ? 

Alcohol does more harm in marriages, families, and any other relationship than it does for good.  Why would one want to begin something that could cause harm?  Saying "it's just a little" is one thing, but it can lead to so much more.  As a friend of mine shared with me "Don't start something you can't stop."


3.  How I choose to speak.
Oh, goodness.... this is a hard one, too.

We all get angry.  We all get annoyed. We all want to be "cool."

How much of that shows in our words?  It is easy during the summer to get caught up with those around us and sometimes we take on words or thoughts that may not reflect we are speaking from the Temple of the Lord.

I have to ask the Lord daily to set a guard on my mouth. 


As I look back on what I have written, I can see how the Lord has been and is continuing to work in me on all of these.

Let's remember that we may be the only Bible anyone ever reads.   

Do we speak one way of loving the Lord and in our dress and actions show a different way?

Here is a song I heard as I was out in the yard today.  As some of the lyrics say.... "People pass and even if they don't know my name is there evidence that I've been changed.... When they see me, do they see You?"

Respect your body... it is your Temple of the Lord and it was bought with a price.

 I Corinthians 6:19-20: Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

05/05/14

Today has been one of those days.

One of those days that as a parent you realize it "ain't for sissies."

One of those days where you wonder if you are doing it right.

One of those days where you are wondering if you are doing it all wrong.

Fast forward to the end of the day....

It was a busier afternoon after school than I had planned.  Several errands were run and one errand was not planned until last minute.

I had papers to grade and other things to get done in the house.

I got the papers graded, but not the other...

I needed to exercise, but honestly was quite tired.  These allergies this year are really getting to me.  I felt drained... physically and parentally.  (new word I made up....)  I truly had already talked myself out of exercising for today and I would make up for it tomorrow.

The Lord called me outside.

It was close to dark, though.

I couldn't go far and feel safe by myself.

I began walking around the barns and up and down our driveway.  It wasn't the workout I normally do, but at least it was something.

Then this song came on and the Lord reminded me why I was outside:


He drew me to Him.  He drew me to His Creation.

I normally am not someone who just goes out and stares into the sky at night, but He showed me tonight I needed that reminder of His Creation when it's getting dark.

The moon was out by the time I finished my walk and I began counting stars.... just two stars and a planet lit up the sky.

I began to recall the quote from Amy Carmichael, missionary to India, who shared that the stars are always shining, even in the daytime, but it isn't until it is darkest that you actually see them.  Those stars represent the treasures we gain through the dark times in life.

I had to run inside and take care of a couple of things, but the Lord drew me back outside to sit on the deck.

I took the time to be still before Him again in a way I normally do not do.

I stared at the moon and stars.

I began to watch as more and more stars appeared.

I saw how the moon beamed so brightly even though it isn't quite at half.

I felt like I was just alone with the Lord.

It brought tears to my eyes.

It brought a joy to my soul.

It brought an awe of the Lord to my heart that I had allowed to become ordinary.

This will be one of those nights I will remember.

I didn't walk away from that display of God's Creation tonight having all my questions answered or my parental struggles solved.

What I did walk away with tonight was a closeness.  A closeness to my Savior that HE is there, and He will be giving me the treasures all along the way of my trials.

I just have to take the time to look up.

04/27/14

I honestly cannot believe it has been almost 2 months since I have written.  My thoughts have been busy, but the Lord has not given me the nudge to write. 

Today I got the nudge.  :)

I don't know about you, but I am feeling the need to be still again.  School is crazy right now, as it is the end of the year, Wesley and Mikayla are into many different things, and I am trying to keep up with exercising, house cleaning, etc.

I realize this is life. 

It doesn't mean I have to be content with busyness.

In teaching my students about Moses' life and hearing a sermon series on him from my Pastor, I have been doing a lot of chewing and it goes along with where I am in life right now.

Moses was raised in the palace.  He had it all and knew he was going to be the one to lead the Israelites to freedom one day.  The only problem was that while he was busy being Prince of Egypt, he was taking that responsibility in his own way and not God's way.  He "took care" of his people by killing an Egyptian guard that was treating his people harshly. 

He murdered.  That was not God's way.

(I am sure by now you are wondering why I went from busyness of life to Moses killing an Egyptian guard... please stay with me.)

Because of Moses' choices he was forced to leave Egypt.  Forced to leave the busyness of the palace. 

Forced into a quieter life.

He went to Midian, married a local woman, and began to raise a family while becoming a shepherd.

How mundane is that compared to the busy and exciting life of the palace?

For forty years Moses was a shepherd.  Every day he watched those sheep and led them different areas, only to start again the next day. 

I wonder if he thought back to his days in the palace?

I wonder if he wished he were somewhere different?

Or did he relish the quiet.  

Enjoy the moments of stillness.

Then one ordinary day, something extraordinary happened.

He walks along the mountain where he had been keeping those sheep for years and walks past a bush.  This bush was not like any old bush.

It was on fire, and not consumed.  The Bible says in Exodus 3:3 that Moses said "I will now turn aside and the see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt."

After forty years of stillness and "mundane", God now knew Moses was ready to listen and do His plan for freeing His people.

Later in his leading of the children of Israel (similar to leading those sheep!) near the Red Sea with the Egyptians coming on one side and mountains surrounding them, Moses had to tell those complaining Israelites to be QUIET and still... because "The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace!" (Exodus 14:14)

Moses was now able to teach those Israelites what the Lord showed him when he was finally still and quiet before the Lord.

How many times have we rushed through in our busyness of life and taken matters in our own hands as Moses did with the Egyptian guard?

How many times has the Lord allowed us to have "mundane" or quiet in our life to prepare us for what is to come?

Many people look at the "mundane" life as not exciting.  They want to go, go, go all of the time and are never willing to be still.

Those quiet times are necessary because we are able to fully hear the Lord.

We are able to fully SEE that "bush" that is burning.  We are not just flying by it on the way to our next endeavor.  God can then show His power in our lives in a way we could have never imagined simply because we finally stopped trying to be so busy ourselves and let the Lord take it all.

We need to have those moments of stillness to actually see God working. 

Instead of rushing ahead on our own being busy, busy, busy, it is more important to slow down, be quiet and still.

That is what I am craving.  I am longing for less busyness and more quality quiet time with the Lord. 

Summer is coming and that is when my life can be more still before Him.  That is when I am able to do my longer Bible study. 

That is when I have time to just be quiet with Him.

How about you?

Do you need more quiet and less busyness?

You will never regret taking the time to sit at Jesus' feet.  After all, that is what we, as true followers of Christ, will be doing for eternity.

So why not practice now?

03/02/14

Want to sit awhile and read my thoughts?

I want to talk about the heart.

Since last November, when my Daddy had to have surgery to help his circulation in his legs, I seem to have been surrounded by heart issues.  

In January, my Daddy's brother had a heart attack which caused a wreck.... which actually led to saving his life.  He is now getting the correct help he needs from a doctor.

Daddy had two more surgeries to correct the blockages in his legs that had to be scheduled at different times because the stress they can cause on the body.

My uncle passed away last week from a massive heart attack.

Now, this weekend, my mom's sister (the aunt who is the twin to the uncle that died last week) was taken to the hospital with heart issues... a possible heart attack but we won't know until further tests are made this week.

There is a lot that can clog those arteries to our heart and, unfortunately, some of my relatives (not all... my Dad, especially) have not taken the initiative to watch that.   It seems to take something like what I have mentioned above to make someone realize it is time to do a change.

Change what is eaten.

Change in activity.. you actually need MORE exercise the older you get.

Change in realizing that you are not "super-human" and can "handle it yourself."

In my journey for weight loss, I have begun to realize it isn't so much about the weight LOSS, but the body strengthening.  

That includes my heart.

On days when I do not feel like getting up and doing any exercising, I MAKE myself do it because I know my heart needs it, as well as all of my body systems.  I haven't seen the change in the scale that I have been desiring, but I have noticed a difference in stamina.  For that, I am thankful.

Exercising has now become a part of my life for so many reasons, but here lately my heart has been on my mind each time because of all that has happened in my family.  

I never regret a time I have exercised!

 

Let's turn this a different direction.....

How is your spiritual heart?  

Does it have some calcification?  Are their blockages?  Are you using it and exercising it as you should?

Sometimes we need a wake up call spiritually.  Calcification can occur because of a hardening of the heart towards the things of the Lord.  The Lord has been trying to tell us that some changes need to be made, but we choose to continue our own spiritual lifestyle.  We only want to get "fixed" when something goes wrong.  We don't look at the "preventative measures" that can be taken.

How can we exercise spiritually?

The most important way is to ask the Lord to:

Psalm 51:10

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

What does that look like?

Reading God's Word.  Daily.  (Not just a verse or two, but digging deep just like when one exercises!)

Praying.

Confessing sin. (that calcification) 

Exercising faith in the Lord.... which is realizing that we cannot do anything in our life on our own.  We must have the Lord's strength.

I am learning that when I exercise spiritually, my stamina in the Lord increases and I am stronger because of Him.

What about you?  How is your heart?  

Take the time to exercise it... physically and spiritually. 

You will never regret it.

02/23/14

Death's door has opened a lot this past week....enough so that I have felt surrounded by it.

A dear friend's son died suddenly at the age of 18.

Another friend's father passed away mid-week.

Another friend's mother passed away Thursday morning

My uncle (my mom's only brother) died on Thursday evening.  

On Saturday, my pastor's mother died.

 
The two that affected me the most, the 18 year old and my uncle, were sudden and so unexpected that they caused me to pause.

Death is part of life.  We all know that.  When it hits home closely it makes one realize the brevity of life - especially when it is  so sudden.

I took time to be still before the Lord and just ask Him to speak His words to me through the weekend.

What I came away with was nothing but peace and joy through the tears I shed.

The young man's memorial service was a blessing in more ways than one.  His mother showed much of the Lord's grace as she ministered to others as they were trying to minister to her and the family.  His service was a celebration of the full life he lived in his 18 years.

My uncle's service was similar.  It brought a joy and peace to celebrate a life of love, selflessness, and devotion to his family.  The Lord's grace was all over my aunt, mom, and other aunt, his twin, as they said "until we meet again."

There was peace in the midst of sadness.

There was joy in the midst of sorrow.

For those who know the Lord as Savior, death is not the end.  As I was reminded this weekend... death is the beginning.  It is the open door to eternity.

I meditated on this Scripture more in the last few days than I think I ever have:

I Corinthians 15:55-57 

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 

The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 

 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

After watching the Lord work through these deaths this past week, I can truly say that there is no sting in death.  The Lord took the sting of death on the cross and allows us to have victory in times such as these.

He is faithful.

He gives us what we need when we need it.

There is a "peace that passes all understanding" and I have experienced it this weekend.

Our friend and her husband have been such a testimony of looking to the Lord this week through the personal tragedy of losing their son.  They have a hope that it is not goodbye.  He is alive and well in Heaven and they now have a new reason to long for home.

My Aunt showed courage and hope today when her husband of 54 years was laid to rest.  She knows he is in Heaven dancing with their two children that passed away before him.  My aunt knows she is just passing through this world and looks forward to the day she can join them all for eternity with the Savior.

For what the Lord has shown me this weekend through death, I am thankful and my life is richer for it.


These two songs blessed me so much today when I was walking at the end of the day after my uncle's service.  When we turn to the Lord and follow His ways, He will cause the world's sorrow and trouble to grow dim because we will see only HIM.  I encourage you to take the time to watch them both.

This one is short, but beautiful.

02/20/14

Here are some images of the snow we had this past week.  We have had an interesting winter here in NC.  I look back and see that we have been unusually wet and gray weather-wise through a lot of the past year.   Below the pictures you can read some of my musings as of late.

 

 

I have been learning from the Lord in years past that I am to appreciate each season that He gives for what He sends.  This applies to my actual seasons in NC.  I normally do not worry so much about gray, cold days.  I always look forward to spring, but I also try to capture and appreciate the winter season, too.

This year has been a bit different.  I think it is because we have been so cloudy/gloomy/rainy/wet for the last year.  Many times I have heard people reference that they didn't realize we were "living" in "Seattle, Washington."

I have felt a bit trapped inside as of late.  This is coming from an "inside person" so that is odd for me to say.  This season of cold/gloomy/rainy is beginning to wear on me and I am feeling the need for something more.  This past weekend I began to share with the Lord how I was feeling.  I was feeling irritable, sluggish, withdrawn.  I asked the Lord to show me what He was trying to teach me.

He soon revealed to me - I was craving the sun.

I have never put much stock in how much we need sunshine.  Yes, I talk about it with my students that there is great benefit from being out in it.  We gain Vitamin D from it, as well as warmth.  It has not been until recent weeks that I have understood more of my need for SUNshine.

This week at school I have been as excited as the children to get out and feel the sun on my skin.  I realize winter is not over, but these few days of the sun and a bit higher temperatures have given me some "pep in my step."  In fact, as I type right now I am sitting on our deck soaking in that sunshine.

As I continued to pray over what the Lord was showing me through this, He made another connection for me.  A connection that applies to my spiritual well-being.

When we go through hard seasons of life - death of a loved one, sickness, financial struggles, etc... sometimes we feel it is never-ending just as I have felt about the gloomy weather this past year.

It is in those thoughts that the Lord revealed to me my craving during those times is for the SON.  I need Jesus Christ to help me through it. I crave time with Him and when I do not get it, or choose to not come to Him to learn, I am indeed deficient.

How do we get SONshine?

We read His Word.

We soak in His truths.

We sing praises to His name even though we do not fully understand.

With the Lord, He is my light. He is my SONshine.  He is what gives me the spiritual vitamins I need to survive the season with which I am living.  The "winter" will pass and spring - new life - will come.

Psalm 119:105

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

John 8:12

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Revelation 22:5

And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

If you are feeling a bit like me and are living in the southern areas of our nation, take this opportunity to go sit out in the sun.  It truly does the body good.  (If you are in a US state right now where you can't because you continue having the gloomy/snowy/rainy weather, just cling to the fact that spring IS coming.)

If your mood/feelings are because of the hard personal season you are facing, look to the SON and allow Him to fill you with His light, His strength, His love, His grace, His mercy.

I want to soak up the SON.

 Off to bask in HIS glorious Word....

02/09/14

I am...

I am happy at how this photograph turned out.  It was one of those surreal moments in time when you capture the sun just so. 

I am silly sometimes.

I am tired sometimes.

I am a wife.

I am a mother.

I am a teacher.

When one thinks of the subject/verb combination of "I am", one thinks of simple sentences like those stated above.  These would be "bony" sentences according to what I teach in class.  :)

In teaching from Exodus in the last few weeks, I am thinking of another "I Am."

I am thinking of this:

Exodus 3:14

And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you.

I always marvel each year when I reteach this section how the Lord continues to bring new "nuggets" to my own learning.  This year "I AM" has taken center stage.  I want my kids to know that our God is the I AM.

 

His name is not:

"I Was."

"I Might Be."

"I Could Be."

"I Should Be."

"I Will."

He IS... "I AM."

Let's think on that for a moment.  

The Lord is always there.  When you are in the state of "I am", you are in the present.  He is always in the present, but that was also the past, and it will be the future.  

He always is.

What a comfort to know my Lord is the "I AM."  I began a search of all of the examples He gives us in His Word of using "I AM" and came away astonished.  Here are a few I found.  I hope they give you encouragement today to know that God is there.  

Always.

Exodus 6:7

And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. (Or for today... our sin!)

Exodus 16:12

I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God.  (He provides what we need for nourishment!)

Leviticus 19:10

And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the Lord your God.  (He provides for those less fortunate!  We should be willing to lend a helping hand to those in need.)

Psalm 46:10

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.  (Be still and know Him!  He is there.)

Song of Solomon 2:1 
I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. (He is beautiful and so is His creation.)

Isaiah 41:10

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. (What a comfort to me to know I need not fear for He is holding me with his hands.)

Isaiah 43:10

Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.  (He is the one, TRUE God.)

Isaiah 44:24 

Thus saith the Lord, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the Lord that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself; (He is the Creator and my Redeemer!)
 

Isaiah 46:4

And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you. (What a precious promise that He goes with us into our older years and carries those who are His, home to be with Him.) 

Jeremiah 32:27

Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me? (How many times do we doubt that He can handle our troubles?)

Matthew 28:20b
and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.  (Always there, my Lord...)

John 6:35

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. (You can be spiritually fed and never hunger when your trust is in the I AM!)

John 8:12

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (I am so thankful that the Lord is my light and salvation!)

John 10:9

I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. (He is the door to freedom... to true joy.) 

John 10:14

I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. (I am so thankful that I have a Shepherd Who cares enough for me, His sheep, that He knows me and will always come for me.

John 11:25
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:  (The "I AM" lives today!  We do not serve a God of stone or one that is dead.) 

John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (There is no other way to I AM than through Jesus Christ.)

John 15:5

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. (Even though we think so, we can do nothing apart from the I AM.)

 

Revelation 22:13

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

He is.  He was.  He will be.  He is the I AM.  We can be assured each day that we can trust that the Lord will be there for every aspect of our lives.  Good and bad, He holds us and understands.