Hit in the Head

It was a Saturday afternoon and our whole family was at the park watching the boys play on their flag football teams. I was filling out forms for the boys and everyone else was throwing the football, including Brent's Grandmother who also came to watch. From what I have been told, it was a good throw and a bad catch that allowed the football to land directly on my head. Somehow Brent took a picture at the same time. And so you have documentation of my reaction, along with everyone elses, after getting hit.

Ever had that happen before? I have. I think I am doing something so important and then, BAM! I get hit on the head with something so unexpected and suddenly what I was doing has disappeared and I am faced with something completely different. Sometimes it is a sorrow, disappointment, or destruction. Sometimes it is for learning, growing or instruction. Sometimes it could be something so wonderful that it would have passed on by unless it hit you squarely on the head.

God has a way of doing that, too. He knows how we are, he knows how set in our ways we can be and dedicated to those things that seem so important to us. Paul knew this concept quite well. He thought he had it all together, God took it all apart. He had to be hit on the head first, he was blinded. God did the rest:

" Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains.
As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”
“Who are you, lord?” Saul asked.
And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one! Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus. He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink."
Acts 9:1-9 (NLT)

Jealousy

This is one of my favorite all-time photos of Dakota. We were watching the Green Bay Packers play last fall on TV. Dakota was sporting her Packers cheer leading outfit and looked so cute. She knew it too. I took her picture with Brent, who sets the moon and stars into place in her eyes, and she was shining in her moment. It was right after the first photo was snapped that I got the brilliant idea that it would be a great moment for me to join in and be in a picture with Brent and Dakota.

You can see from her reaction in the photo she was NOT happy with this suggestion. I love that you can actually see the disgust in her body language. She wanted that moment to be about her and Brent only. I had ruined her plans.

Jealousy is that way. It is really wishing only happiness for yourself. When others experience what we wish, we get jealous. It is our nature to be selfish. That is why Jesus was such a wonderful example. He defied all that us as humans thought impossible. He was unselfish and gave freely to all, even in the midst of pain, suffering and betrayal.

"Though he was God,he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges
he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross."
Philippians 2:6-8 (NLT)

Laundry

I HATE to do laundry. There is never a good time to do laundry in my eyes until you have to. When I get down to the clothes that I don't like to wear or that pair of underwear that has holes in it that I refuse to throw away, I know I have reached that magical moment to drag the hamper out to the laundry room.

I am unsure of the reasons for my laundry-hatred, but I am sure that there is a psychiatrist somewhere that would be more than willing to give me some insight into my condition.

I think that is what I envy about Adam and Eve. They had no clothes to wash, perfect scenario. Why did they have to go and sin like that?

God uses the term wash/washing all through the Bible. Isn't amazing how God uses all of our mondain, household tasks as examples of His glory? He uses the language all through the Bible that we can grasp and understand. I am going to try to focus on the following verses today as I tackle my clothing mountain.

" And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise."
Hebrews 10:21-23 (NLT)

Aren't you glad that God isn't afraid of doing his laundry? He took us on and through his sacrifice made us clean. What a wonderful gift.

Lifeguard

We went to the beach today and just sat to take it all in. The two younger boys dug in the sand and Tyler just walked around enjoying the ocean. The water was too cold to swim but the temperature was perfect to just sit and enjoy the day.

The lifeguard was on duty but there was only one man swimming in the ocean. I thought about lifeguards and how the Holy Spirit is our lifeguard in our daily life. Just like the lifeguard blows his whistle when he knows you are in danger or could get into trouble, the Holy Spirit does the same for us when we are in tune to him.

When we are not in tune or get in over our head with no return, he jumps in and rescues us. Sometimes we welcome His help and sometimes we behave just like some drowning victims and fight the one who is there to bring us to safety.

" I am writing these things to warn you about those who want to lead you astray. But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit[b] teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ. Living as Children of God. And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame." I John 2:26-28 (NLT)

My Nanny

I love my Nanny. She recently went to be with the Lord in 2005 and I miss her every single day. She was so Godly and wise. She loved to read and loved to write. She had books and journals filled with her thoughts that she constantly wrote down. Reading them are a treasure for me. I thought I would share a portion today.

"Home is the most enjoyable place I have found. I have the things around me I enjoy. I do not have to go running after or seeking pleasures somewhere else. If one likes himself, he can stay home alone at night or day. When the lights go off, the darkness surrounds me and there is a prescense in the darkness which holds me until the light of day comes through the Windows.

How nice it is to rest peacefully in this darkness knowing you are cared for by a higher power which shuts all the outside world out.

Don't expect someone else to make you happy. Happiness comes from within ourselves. When you go off looking for happiness you may wind up with an empty basket."
Geraldine Newton

Presidents Day

Today is Presidents Day! I guess it doesn't really mean that much to most people unless you are a child in school, which in that case means another free day away from schoolwork. I have thought a little about our presidents through the years in our country and reflected on how each has added a little to what our country is today.

"Praise the name of God forever and ever, for he alone has all wisdom and power. He determines the course of world events; he removes kings and sets others on the throne. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars. He reveals deep and mysterious things and knows what lies hidden in darkness, though he himself is surrounded by light. I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors, for you have given me wisdom and strength." Daniel 2:20-23b (NLT)

God knows all. There is no election held that comes as a shock to God. He has a plan and it always involves what is best for His plan.

Daytona 500

It was a big day today watching the Daytona 500 here at home. It was especially fun for the boys since they have already experienced speed weeks this past couple of weeks going to Daytona with Brent.

So, today is quiet and everyone is enjoying their time watching TV and we have been overeating today with Brent's world famous Brats!