Category Archives: Life Happens

Life Happens, Meditations

Splash Zone

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I was out painting a bunch of boards today for a new adventure we are on.  As I was painting, paint wasn't only getting on the boards but on my hands, my clothes, the ground and I am sure everything within splashing distance.  After I was done, I came in the house to scrub the paint off my skin.  Most of it came off but some stuck really well.

I got to thinking, that is how my faith should be.  It should stick all over everything around me in the "splash zone" of my life. People should get some stuck in their minds.  Does my faith overflow in my daily life?  Do I talk about my faith enough that people get things stuck in their heads about God?  I need to be consciously "painting" the world around me with my faith.  Through the power of the Holy Spirit I can overflow into the lives of others.   How about you?

Life Happens

The Ride of My Life

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When the Holy Spirit is my guide I feel secure no matter what life throws at me.

I have begun to draw as a type of therapy.  It helps me to get my thoughts and emotions out.  As a three on the Enneagram, I am a doer.  I do not like to take time to put into words what I am feeling or going through, so I find this is a great way to get those things out.  I feel like I am doing something but it is constructive for my emotion health.

This is one of my pictures that I love.  The ride of life has many ups and downs, twist and turns, and mountains and valleys.  I know that I am secure, just like on the many roller coasters I have ridden, because the Holy Spirit is my guide.

I hope that as you go through the ride of your life you know that the Spirit is guiding you and giving you the counsel and strength you need to grow and continue to give glory to God.

Life Happens, Meditations

Seasons of Change

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My Christmas traditions over the last two years have changed in many strange ways.  As I thought about it this New Year, I realized my Christmas season has changed dramatically over my lifetime. 

As a child, I remember the cardboard fireplace we put up to hang our stockings on, the toy catalog coming in the mail and my siblings and I circling all of the things we wanted to receive from Santa.  Presents and Santa were what made the season exciting.  I grew up in the church so, of course, I knew Jesus was part of the reason for the season.  We did the church Christmas programs and made gifts for our parents during Sunday school but that was to the side in my mind.

As a teenage, Santa fell to the background and the focus was enjoying the time off school.  Getting to sleep in and have fun outside in the snow instead of going to classes was the best. College days were celebrated by being able to come home from Oklahoma and see family and friends.  I was also able, during this part of my life, to be proud of being able to spend my own money to buy my mom and dad gifts.  

After having my firstborn, a precious little boy, my view of Christmas changed forever.  I remember holding my 4 month old in church when the song “Mary, Did You Know?” Was sung.  My heart broke for that young mother and put so much of the Christmas story in perspective for me.  I still can’t put into words what that moment did for my ability to understand the story of Christ in a personal way.

As our four children grew, Christmas again became about Santa and presents.  Trying to make it a magical time for my kids was so much fun. Then as they all began to grow and go off to college, get married and move away I held on to the moments during the season that we could all be together again.

Now, with grandchildren and kids living in different areas, I have come back to the true meaning of Christmas.  Christ has always been a part of my Christmas season but he has become the rock of my Christmas as I get older.  Last year my husband was not doing well in recovering from Covid.  We were not able to get together with family like my heart longs to do.  The time alone gave me the time to appreciate what Christ’s coming has meant to me personally.  I would never have all the blessings I have without him in my life.  This year, schedules, family struggles and sickness made the season seem like it could be lonely again.  However, taking the time to count my blessings because of Christ’s sacrifice of coming to this world has made this years Christmas another amazing time for me.

God is my rock and has been through all the seasons of my life.  I am now able to revel in that thought more and more.  Being thankful for the changes and embracing the life I have been given continues to make the Christmas season a blessing each year. 

Life Happens, Meditations

Peace

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Philippians 4:7 says, "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  How can peace guard my heart and my mind?  I went through many trials over the last year.  I am taking time to look back and see how this verse actually played out in my life.

I think, in every instance, peace came when I remembered what I knew about my God.  The times I felt overwhelmed and not even close to being peaceful were the times I was focused on the problem.  Taking a moment, in the midst of the tears, and remembering who my God is and how much he loves me and those around me, are what brought me the peace that doesn't make sense.

My God is still in control.  My God knows the pain and the hurt. My God wants the best for me.  My God loves even when I can't. My God grieves with me.  My God forgives and offers grace.  My God is my rock and the one I will continue to lean on through it all.

I have sang a song many times in church that tells my story of trying to keep my eyes on Him.  It is called "It is Well" by Bethel Music - Kristene DiMarco.  The chorus goes like this:

"Through it all, through it all, My eyes are on You and through it all, through it all it is well."

If I am willing to take my eyes off of this world and the crisis that always seems to be looming, look Jesus in they eye as I talk with him and share my concerns, peace that is beyond my understanding does flood my soul and keep me standing.

Life Happens

INTERRUPTION

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As I was driving across Michigan last week, I was reminded in an unexpected way that God was trying to get my attention. As you know, when you are driving, if you listen to the radio, you need to keep changing the station to find something good in the new area you are traveling in. Most people now just use their own music instead of the car radio, but I still use the old school car radio a lot of the time. As I was driving, I was listening to a news station, catching up on the latest events happening in the world around me. I was intently listening to a story when the station started fuzzing out. Another station was breaking through as I headed out of the area. It was a Christian music station. I would get some news and then it would get interrupted by a song about God’s love. It went back and forth for about 10 minutes before I could take my eyes off the road long enough to change the channel. I was irritated that I did not hear the complete news story. Then it dawned on me. God wanted my focus to be on what he is doing in the world, not what the circumstances of the world are around me.

I am not saying that I should not know what is going on in the world around me but that I need to keep my focus on what God is doing in the world around me and jump on board when I have the opportunity. Godly interruptions are good things, they should not be annoying or frustrating to me.

It was a wake up call for me to continue to train myself to see God’s world view and not rely on the world to tell me what is important. Let me know what you think and if you have any thoughts on this idea.

Life Happens

Lessons from 2017

God is FOR ME not against me

I have known this in my mind for a long time but this past year I really understood that everything God asks of me or allows me to go through is not because he is against me or wants me to fail in any way, he is always FOR ME!  Romans 8:31 “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”  So we have to ask ourselves do we believe the “if” statement?  If we do, then nothing can stop us from doing what God has called us to do or stop us from growing in our faith as we go through things the world throws at us!

 

Anyone can benefit from having a coach

I have been setting goals and achieving SOME of them throughout my life but this past year I hired a coach that helped me see that I was doing things in my own strength and not relying on God’s power and purpose to accomplish things bigger than I could see.  I needed that coach to put my calling into action in a way that I could not see or even think about.  God lead me to a man that could pull me up in my faith.  My husband and I only met with this coach 4 or 5 times but those were life changing hours and I will always be thankful for them.  I think each one of us needs people in our lives that challenge us, pull us up in our faith and mentor us in the things we cannot see in ourselves.

 

I can write

“I am a math teacher, not an English teacher.”  This was my response to God every time he reminded me He had a purpose for me in writing.  So under the guidance of my coach, I just wrote.  I didn’t edit, I didn’t worry about how it sounded, I just wrote what was on my heart.  Then I hired really smart English people to edit my words and make them sound amazing!  Writing is not about the grammar, it is about the heart.  I learned that lesson this year and though I hope to become better in my writing I know that God just wants me to share my heart.  He will find people to help me do the rest but only I can write what I have experienced.

 

Watching my kids be grown ups is satisfying

I am enjoying watching my kids navigate the world, learn from their mistakes and use the gifts God has lavished on them for His glory.  I am one proud mama!  I know they are not perfect, I know they will have struggles, but the joy of seeing them lean on the Lord through each event is my greatest joy!

 

Adding new members to our family is fantastic

We experienced TWO of our sons getting married this year and am so thankful for the Godly women each has chosen.  Not only the girls themselves but the families that have become forever connected with us.  Each ceremony differed in many ways but the center theme for both was building a marriage on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ.  Again, proud mama!

 

Spending time with my grandkids is priceless

Having the kids live with us for half of the year has had its ups and downs; but when one of the boys cuddles, hugs, laughs or yells “grandma” my heart wants to explode.  I have learned to focus on the joyous times and make the most of the time they are here.  I do not know how far away they will move in the coming months so I have spent this year filling my mind with snapshots and video of our moments together.

 

I can learn new things

In writing my book I have had to learn three new computer programs, some computer code for the ebook format and a ton of steps that I didn’t know existed in the publishing process.  At first I wanted to hire everything out but that can be very expensive.  A wise friend told me that I can learn it all by just searching and reading and experimenting, so, that is what I did.  It was frustrating at times, I failed several times in the ebook coding, but in the end I have learned many skills I hope to pass on to others that are experiencing the same things I did.  It also gave me confidence in trying new things and experiment again.  We all did it as kids but have seem to become a little frightened by the word as we age.  I want to keep on trying new things and learning along my journey.

 

My husband is amazing

(I already knew this but this year just reaffirmed it)

 

David’s support for me this year has been astounding!  He has helped me write my book in any way he could imagine.  He came up with ideas to keep me going.  He never let me give up and found ways to help me focus.  I could not have asked God for a better partner in life and I am so full of gratitude for the love and support David gives me.  

 

This year has been full of lessons, experiences and gratitude.  I am looking forward to what God has in store for me this year.  He is the one in control and I just want to follow His lead.  

 

What did you learn in 2017?  Share in the comments!

Life Happens

Time with my best friend

This past weekend I attended a conference and was challenged to do a creative writing exercise.  I am a math teacher, which means I am a very logical, orderly thinker, so this was definitely a challenge for me.  So here it is.  Let me know your thoughts.

Being with a close friend is like a warm hug from a grandmother who smells of peppermint and cookies.  That feeling of comfort, peace and acceptance flow from the time I talk with my best friend.  He takes the time to listen as patiently as a mother listening to her three year olds questions over and over again. He waits for me to spill out my heart and to become still, quiet and ready to listen to His remedies for my struggles, sorrows and dreams.  When I take time to listen to my friend, he pours out his love for me.  Never making me feel like a wadded up, dirty dollar bill in the bottom of a farmer’s pocket but rather, like a crisp, clean, one hundred dollar bill hot off the press.  Clean, new and ready for my day.  I desire to spend my day on his ideas and plans.  My morning with my friend help me prepare and feel ready for my day.  Do you have a friend like Jesus?

Life Happens

Genuine (Fair Week) – Rabbits can teach us a lesson

This week in Saginaw County, Michigan it is fair time!  I have enjoyed going to the fair since I was a little girl.  My dad always took us to the tractor pulls, horse pulls and of course, the rides.  I entered some crafts in the 4-H program as a child and my children did the same thing.  But with my kids, we had rabbits to show every year.  My husband and I became involved with the rabbit barn and have worked at it for several years.  My children are all done with the 4-H program and have moved on to college but we still work and enjoy the fair.

Today was the rabbit show and the word that came to mind for today was genuine.  One of the classes that was to be judged was the lionhead rabbits.  When the entries all came up, the judge asked me if he was supposed to judge them based on the standards?  I told him yes.  Well, all of them would have been disqualified.  None of them fit into the category of purebred lionhead.  They were not genuine.  We told the students that we would look at them but that the judging would not be based on the book standards.  More like a pet class.  Each entry learned why their rabbit did not fit into this category and what to look for next time.  The judge was great with the 4-Her’s and they had a great discussion.

That leads me to my life as a Christian.  If I am going to say that I fit into that category, as people look at me, do they see the standards that make me genuine.  I am not talking about the mistakes I may make but my heart attitude.  Am I truly portraying the heart and mind of Christ as I carry His name with me.

My prayer is that people see me as a genuine Christian that is getting closer to my Savior every day.  Am I learning, growing and sharing the love of Christ with those I come in contact with?  I want people to see me as someone who has a heart of compassion, gratitude, generosity and love.  I want to share the incredible love I know the Father has for me, to the world around me.  Are you living as a genuine Christian or just entering the category by name only?

 

Life Happens

Fear – Is fear holding us back?

We all have a fear of something.  Whether that is spiders, mice, heights or the million other things we can be afraid of.  But what fear in our life is holding us back.  Are we afraid to fail, afraid to be judged, afraid to not fit in, afraid to speak the truth?  Those fears keep us from doing the very things God calls us to do.  I have struggled with this for many years.  My personality wants people to like me.  I like to be a part of whatever group I am with.  BUT, if I let that drive my actions and judgment, where do I stand with God?

My ability to overcome fear is, I believe, directly related to how much I know about who God is and how He knows me.  As I grow closer to God, I begin to see that I do not have to fear failure if I am in his will.  I do not have to worry about being judged, except by God himself, I do not have to fit in but I must stand out as someone who is filled with God’s love for people, and I have to rely on the Holy Spirit to speak the truth in love when I am called to do so.  God has me in this world for a reason and as long as I am actively seeking His will throughout my day I have nothing to fear.

That does not mean that I use poor judgment when it comes to spiders and snakes (yuck).  A healthy fear of things that can harm me is God-given wisdom.  I just need to learn to discern what the healthy fears in this world are and what fears are keeping me from being all that God wants me to be.

I John 4:18 (MSG) says, “God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love.”

I want to be the person that is standing with Christ in this world and seeking his approval and relying on His love to keep me from fear.

Life Happens

Wedding Week – Preparing for my son’s wedding

Wedding Week

As we prepare for my second son’s wedding this weekend, nostalgia, excitement and prayers are abundant.  It has been so exciting to see our son find love and develop the relationship with a wonderful girl.  It has been my prayer since by children were small that they would find partners that love the Lord and want to serve him first.  What a joy to see that happening!
From the day he was born, Trevor has been the peacemaker in the family.  He does not like to see people hurting and always finds way to lighten the mood and make us laugh.  Watching him develop his love for music has been another amazing journey.  The dedication he had learning guitar and piano on his own was impressive.
His fiancé is a special woman of God too. I have enjoyed getting to know her and her family.  I see the love she has for my son.  Helping people who are struggling is a lifelong goal for her.  Her personality is a perfect match for Trevor and I love watching them solve problems together.  She is a wonderful addition to our family.
The wedding is a very special day but not what I have been preparing for during the life of my son.  It was more about a process of helping him know how to treat a lady, how to be the man that loves and serves the Lord first, and how to be independent.  I am so proud of the young man he has become and am excited to see God use this couple in advancing His kingdom.
So bring on the craziness of wedding week!  We are ready!