Hissin' and Spittin'

A stray cat had kittens under my shed approximately 8 weeks ago.  They have just emerged recently and created all kinds of havoc at my already 'close-to-charging-admission-to-our-zoo' home.

The kittens were feral, meaning they had never interacted with humans.  To say they were distrustful is an understatement.  After trapping them and keeping them contained in our rabbit's outdoor pen, we soon realized how opposed to humans they were.

If you reached out a hand to pet them, they would hiss, spit, climb the walls and generally display bad kitty behavior.

So everyday I made a point to get in the pen, sit, pick up one hissing, spitting cat at a time and just love on it.  Despite the scratches, I kept on.

My daughter thought I was crazy. 

"How can you do that? Aren't you afraid??"

I explained to her that if I didn't, those kittens would never learn to interact with people.  No one would want them, and they would remain stray cats all their lives, never allowing anyone to get close to them.  "They have never experienced love from people," I told her. "They need to learn to trust that not every hand that reaches out to them is going to harm them...that sometimes those same hands provide love and comfort. You just have to overcome their fear with your love."

She thought for a moment.

"Kind of like people. I think mean people just need love," she replied.

God loves us the same way.  Even when we hiss and spit and don't trust, He keeps reaching out His hand to show us that His love is stronger than our doubt.

And she's right...those people who are mean, hissin' and spittin' all the time...they need that love more than we know.

Sometimes He Sends a Spider

I love Joel Osteen, don't you? He looks perpetually happy everytime you see him on television, and I truly believe he really is that happy 99 % of the time.

Anyway, I caught his sermon on television yesterday morning before church and it has stuck with me, so much so that I want to share it here.

In a nutshell, it was about a soldier in Vietnam who was alone in the jungle.  He could hear the enemy getting closer and closer.  He started to run, but could only go deeper into the jungle.

Finally he came to a cluster of caves, and out of desperation, he chose one and hid in its darkness.

All the while he could hear the enemy approaching.

So he prayed. He prayed for a brick wall, an iron fist, anything to stop them from capturing him.

He came to terms with his mortality.  And he waited.

Suddenly he noticed a spider in the mouth of the cave.  It began to spin a web from one side of the cave to the other, and in no time it had woven it's web across the mouth of that cave.

The enemy approached the caves, and began searching them for the soldier.

When they came to his cave, one of the soldiers saw the spiderweb and suggested there was no way anyone could be in that cave...they would surely have disturbed that web when entering.  And they moved on.  One little spider saved that soldiers life.



How many times do we pray for that brick wall, that iron fist...or at least expect something huge and amazing to answer our prayers, all the while forgetting that God can take a lowly spider and create something extraordinary out of it?

The next time you pray and think that God hasn't heard you because he didn't send what you requested...look again.  Closely.

Sometimes He just sends a spider.

The Value of Traditional Family Values

These are all headlines in my local news for today:

"Macon Grandmother Accused in Death of 11 Year Old Granddaughter"

"Augusta 11 Year Old Admits to Killing Dad's Girlfriend"

"Cops: Ga Man Forced 7 Year Old to Smoke Pot"

"Georgia Teen Arrested After Explosive Devices Found"

All of this on today's local news.  Never mind what is taking place in other parts of the country.

I don't know about you, but it makes me feel sick, sad and hopeless.

Lately the Christian faith has been under attack for espousing traditional family values. Traditional family values doesn't just mean marriage between men and women, but a value system that supports the family.  I personally believe that if more families took the time to embrace some of those values, today's headlines would not be so hard to read.

Parents- take time with your children.  Have dinner together as a family.  Be interested in what is going on in their school.  Monitor their internet activity and the media they see and hear.  Evaluate their friendships, and prune the unhealthy ones when necessary.  Let them see you pray.   Love your spouse.  Be gentle. Be kind to everyone you meet.  Discipline them when they do wrong, praise them when they do right.  Have integrity.  I mean, isn't that what Jesus told us to do? 

 I can't help but be convinced that if these children were raised in homes where they felt safe and loved the outcome would be so different.

Above all, pray for today's children.  They need it now more than ever.

Raising Kids in an Overly Sexualized Culture

One of the main reasons I homeschool is to filter influences that affect my children.  Call me over protective if you wish...I really don't care.  Has anyone spent any time at all watching television, on the Internet, listening to the radio, reading a magazine?  If you have surely you have seen or heard the bombardment of sexual content that is being hurled at our children.

"According to a recent study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, the average American child spends more than 38 hours a week on video games, music, TV, reading and their computers — nearly the equivalent of a full-time job. And the report notes that 68 percent of the material the children watch contains sexual content." (ABC's GMA report: Children Overly Exposed to Sex)

I don't know about you, but that is an alarming statistic. As much time as they spend in school, they are being exposed to damaging stuff.  Heck, even *in* school they are potentially exposed to damaging stuff.   A fellow homeschool mom sent her son to middle school so he could play sports.  His first year in public middle school he was exposed to pornography.  Needless to say, he was very quickly brought back home to continue homeschooling...by his own choice.  Pornography addiction is a very real problem in society today.  And both girls and boys are encouraged to have 'exclusive' relationships with the opposite sex. Why?  When  you are 12, WHY do you need a boy/girlfriend?  It only adds fuel to the hormonal fire.

It's everywhere.  Clothes shopping for little girls shouldn't have to involve the 'squat test' (my own term) to see if, when my daughter has on jeans or shorts, her bottom or underwear is exposed because of the low cut nature of the clothes. T-shirts are cut very narrow and expose every curve.  Bathing suits are sometimes teeny weenie bikinis. 

And the music.  Don't get me started.  Seeing little seven year old kids singing along with Lady Gaga and the like, singing suggestive lyrics.  The images these celebrities portray...skimpy costumes, suggestive dance moves.  Just watch an episode of 'Toddlers and Tiaras' sometime.  You'll see what I am talking about.

Television.  You can't hardly go to a 'family film' anymore without some sexual references thrown in. 

Internet is no place for a child unless strictly supervised.  Especially the social media realm.  Have any of you seen some of the pictures posted by tween aged girls?  You all know the look...pouty mouth, camera angle to show her body.  And some of the comments ...wow. 

Sometimes my kids ask why 'they' don't have a smart phone, or Facebook account,  or have this album or that outfit.

Here is my answer: You can borrow my phone to call friends.  You can play on games on the Internet that I approve and have saved on my 'Favorites' list.  No surfing the net.  Because there are so many things that, once you see them, you can't UNsee them.   You need to respect yourself and wear clothing that honors you as a person and that honors God. No self respecting young lady exposes her body for everyone else to see.

Maybe I am 'uncool'.  Maybe my kids will be social pariahs because they don't have access to these things.  I don't care.

They have the rest of their lives to be exposed to the ugly things in this world.  Right now I just want to fill up their minds and hearts with what is healthy and good.

But, boy, is it ever a battle.

Friends

I've been thinking a lot about friendships lately. I've had friends on the brain, so to speak.

This past year I have experienced a blossoming in my relationship with Christ.  So many things have touched my heart in ways that have brought me closer to the Lord.  I've even gone so far to pray, "Lord, what do you think about my friendships? Are they pleasing to you?"

God has been revealing some things to me, particularly in the realm of relationships.

1.  I need to include more people in  my life that encourage and support my faith.

2.  God 'does' care whom I allow close to my heart.  I'm not talking about the person you see once in a while for lunch or a movie. I'm talking about the ones who could influence me and my behavior.  Because if you don't think that the Enemy will send someone into your life to try and get close to you in order to pull you in the wrong direction, you are mistaken.

3.  Be wary of friends who try to 'keep you in your past'.  Guess what?  I wasn't always a Christian.  I've done some wild and stupid stuff along the way.  But that was years ago, and I have been forgiven.  Anyone who keeps trying to present me as the person I was 25 years ago is not someone that is spiritually healthy to have in my life, because I'm not that person anymore.  A true friend respects the changes and choices you make if they have made your life happy and healthy.

4.  Friends can be in our lives for seasons.  There are friends that may only be in your life for a little while.  They teach us more about ourselves and themselves before they move on.  Be grateful for them, even if you are sad to see it end.  They were put into your life for a reason.

5.  If someone is offended by my faith or my beliefs, its usually not wise to form a close relationship with them.  That doesn't mean I have to 'cut them off' all together, because they could gain so much from exposure to Christ.  However, if they truly have a negative reaction to something that is my heart and soul, I just can't see how I can form a true bond with that person.

Letting God take over has not been an easy task.  Sometimes I think * I * know better.  I want to follow my feelings and as we all know, feelings are fickle and can't be trusted. 

God knows my heart, and cares about whom I let in it.

Powerful Stuff

One of the most powerful things I have read in a long time.

Merry Christmas!

"I’ve always loved the celebration of Christmas, with the decorations, the lights and even buying presents. But that’s not what I need right now. I need a serious infusion of hope and comfort.
After losing both of my beloved parents in a six-month period and experiencing a life-threatening accident sandwiched between those two painful events, I feel beaten up. I don’t mean to whine, but at certain points in our lives, we feel slammed against a concrete wall, screaming for answers to some very serious questions. Like, Why I am alive? or, How in the world can I get through the pain that I feel has swallowed my soul?

Christmas is exactly the answer to the most troubling questions in life. As a matter of fact, it is the only answer. Sure, a lovely, perfect baby was born to a wandering teenager whose husband-to-be wondered if she had cheated on him (with God?), but beyond that conundrum lies a series of the most profound events ever to hit earth. God came and shouted to every one of us that He was here to overcome everything.
Don’t miss that. He was here to overcome everything: confusion, joy, agony, abandonment, loneliness, marriage, death and all that we experience on this earth. If that doesn’t confound you, nothing will.

Right now, as I walk through my days feeling lost and lonely, I need to know that God showed up to not only be with me in all of my temporal troubles, but to get me out of them—one day. That’s not pie-in-the-sky. It is reality. And at the heart of that reality is the love of God. The supernatural spirit who is God bound Himself into the tiny womb of a little girl because He knew that I needed help. And He did it because you need help too.

Christmas is about God leaving heaven and showing up. He had come before, but we didn’t pay much attention, so He came again to make us understand what reality is and what it isn’t. Reality isn’t unending hurt, loneliness, confusion or financial woes. Those are temporary, and we mustn’t forget that. The bigger reality is the overwhelming, awful passion of God. Let that sink in this Christmas. If you and I can, then nothing else will feel important.

That’s what I need this Christmas. What about you?"

Pediatrician, wife, mother and best-selling author of six books, Dr. Meg Meeker is one of the country’s leading experts on parenting, teens and children’s health.

The Case for Santa

Since I covered the REAL meaning of Christmas in my last post, today I get to defend Santa Claus.

YES...Santa comes to our house every Christmas. 

I don't know when folks started getting all bent out of shape about Santa, but I don't get it.  Don't get me wrong, I fully support your right not to do Santa with your kids...but I just don't get it.

"It's lying to your children."  Well...yeah.  It might be.  But so is telling them that their shots won't hurt THAT much.  Or that their crummy little crayon drawings are beautiful.  Face it...there are times when we soften the truth to protect their feelings.  That's lying too.

"It's diminishing the true meaning of Christmas."  Um..no.  Saint Nicholas was a real person.  He gave to the poor.  My personal thoughts are this:  if Santa coming one night out of the year causes a person to question their Christian faith, then you have bigger problems.  If you are raising your children in a Christian home and model your lives as such EVERY day of the year, then there should be no problem.  I wonder if anyone has ever done a study to see if a child has ever grown up to be an atheist because Santa delivered their Christmas presents.  No really....I'd like to know.

"It's putting all the focus on gift giving."  Like you aren't going to give your child any gifts at Christmas?  What's the difference if Santa brings them or you get the credit?  They are still getting gifts.  And there is nothing wrong with enjoying gift getting as well as gift giving.  We do it on their birthdays, don't we? 

Personally, I have never met anyone who resents their parents for allowing them to believe in Santa Claus.  I've also never met anyone who rejects Christ because of Santa.

I do know plenty of people who have amazing moments of joy when they remember how magical it all seemed as a child.  I spoke to a friend last night who told me how her father would wake her up at 5:00 on Christmas morning running into her room yelling "Hurry!  You're going to miss him!  GET UP! QUICK!"  And they would run outside looking....

I thought that was a precious memory. 

And I don't think Jesus holds it against them one bit.

Maybe I Am The Only One Who Needs To Hear This...

Had a conversation with a good friend yesterday and of course, Christmas was brought up.  She mentioned that her priest had stated something along the lines of this:

"Christmas is about the birth of Jesus Christ. PERIOD.  Why do people feel the need to cram all this other stuff into Christmas?"

It was a thought that made me think...and you know how I love those.  I pondered that the rest of the afternoon.

He was right.  Why do we make ourselves crazy during the holiday season? 

The night Jesus was born, he was with his family.  Aside from the angels alerting the shepherds and then, later on, the Three Kings bringing their few precious gifts...that was it.  Low key and yet...the most profound moment in the history of mankind.

And we think we can even come close with our tinsel and gifts and office parties and numerous Breakfasts, Lunches, and Photos with Santa, along with parades, shopping, decorating. 

I don't think Jesus wants His birth to be commemorated in a stressed out, brain frying haze.  I don't think He wants us to be at our wits end, worrying about not having the money to buy a tree or if we have enough gifts for every single person that we cross paths with in our daily lives. 

I think He would be just as pleased if we all slow down a little and just 'be still'.  Savor the time of year with those we hold the dearest.  Behold the magic of that first Christmas, when all was quiet and peaceful and there was nary a garland or lighted tree. 

So, to those of you feeling the stress (this may just be a letter to myself)...it's okay to just 'be'.

Even if the rest of the world is driving themselves crazy.

So What?

The Duggars are expecting baby #20...so what?

Yes, they get paid for their show...so what?  Have you watched their show?  If anyone deserves to be paid to be on television, it's the Duggars.  More so than Snookie and the Jersey Shore cast...more than the Real Housewives of _________  (as much as I love to watch that garbage...still...do they need to be paid to show how rich they are and what screwed up relationships they have?)  At least they haven't comprimised their principles for the sake of ratings.  If anything, I appreciate that they set a good example of faith, marriage, and family.  They aren't rude and snarky like Kate Gosselin.   

I find it so amusing that so many people want to preach 'tolerance'...yet, those same people have very little tolerance for anyone living out their Christian faith. 

This is the USA...land of the free, home of the brave.  We are all free to have as many kids as we choose....if we are brave enough (ha!).  This isn't China, where children are being discarded because the government believes families should only have 1 child.  As long as you support your children with your own income, as the Duggars do, then who has any right to judge them for having 20 kids?

Mama and Daddy Duggar have a wonderful marriage and provide for their family.  They are producing functioning members of society.  The children are all happy.  They are loved.  They are honest, hard working.

Is there something wrong with this?  If this is a bad example of how we should raise our children, well then, there is something screwed up with the world.

THOSE Are Pleasures of the Flesh Too? Dang.

I can't wait to see what crazy Google searches my stats reveal for this post.

Trust me....this will be G-Rated.

When you hear the term 'pleasures of the flesh', the first thought that comes to mind is...yeah.  You know. 

One reason I get up at the hour I do, (6:30 a.m.), is to have some quiet time before I start the day.  I can quietly finish chores, browse the computer, sip coffee in silence.  Lots of times I use that quiet time to contemplate the day.  Quite often I hear little God-whispers along the way.

This morning, if you could have read my thoughts, it would have been something like this:

Ugh, 6:30...I just want to lay here.

(Get up and get a shower.  You will be glad to have your quiet time today)

Laundry needs folding.  Ugh.

(Do it.  Laziness is a 'pleasure of the flesh')

Back up the bus! Laziness is a pleasure of the flesh?  Nah, that phrase means...well, something else.

(Nope.  Any thing that brings pleasure to yourself is a pleasure of the flesh.  Same goes for eating too much and drinking too much.  Feeling sorry for yourself.  And loafing around too.)

*blink* Dang.  I think you're right!

(Of course I am right.  I'm God.)

Wow.  I get it.   If I am too busy doing all these things...I won't have time to do what is required, what I need to do to serve You.  I am wasting what little time I have in life making myself comfortable.  There is too much to be done!

(Glad you 'Got It'.  I'll let you sleep in in Heaven.  Now, get busy.)

After this little convo with God, I had a new reason to get busy, fold that laundry, and bake those muffins.  And blog about it.  Which is probably a waste of time too, but hey...I'm only human.

Rekindling That Old Flame Named...Crocheting

I haven't crocheted in years...until I saw this pattern...and I knew I had to try it out.

Totally cute and super easy!  Now my daughter has been practicing her stitches in all of her free time. 

I used to love crocheting.  Back in the day when I was younger and all of my friends were of the baby producing age, I crocheted countless booties, blankets, sweaters.  It was Zen-like...I could zone out for an hour or two (or three) and contemplate my thoughts in time with the under-over, in-out of the hook in the plush, colorful yarn. 

I'm excited my girl wants to take this hobby up!  I was even more excited when she shared that she would like to make hats and scarves for the homeless or children who have lost their hair due to cancer.

Who wants to join me?  I encourage all of you crafters out there to start thinking of the Holiday season and use the talents God gave you to show warmth and compassion for others.  Doing something you love for those who need love...it's a win-win situation!

Knowing Your Worth

Saturday was the day for Nutcracker Ballet tryouts.  They started at 8:30 that morning and lasted throughout the day. 

Did I happen to mention that my daughter loves to attend the Nutcracker every year at Christmas?  And that professional dancers from all over the world perform for us?  In our 'small town', this is a very big deal.  So of course, my daughter decides she wants to try out for some of the children's parts.

So, Saturday I wake her at 6:00 am so that we can drive to the auditions (which were in the next town over, about 20 minutes away) and get there by 8:30. 

She was eligible for 4 parts. 

First part, she didn't make the cut.

Second part, she didn't make the cut.

Lots of little girls came out crying.  My girl was just excited to try out for the next part.

"Are you going to cry if you don't get a part?"  I asked.

"No.  It'll be just as much fun watching the show even if I'm not in it!" she replied.

Did I mention this was taking a-l-l  d-a-y long? 

Third part- no luck.

But the fourth part..8 hours later...success!   She got the part!

Yes, I m a proud mama.  But the thing I am most proud of is the fact that my daughter knows her worth...and that her worth doesn't involve whether or not she is a 'winner' or a 'loser'.

She's a beloved child of God. And she's special no matter the circumstance.

Seventy-Seven Times

"I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times."  Jesus Christ

Who knows the question that is the answer to?  Anyone?  Bueller?  Bueller? Bueller?

It's how many times we are supposed to forgive someone.

Any of you who follow this thing I call a blog might have read about the kids up the street treating my son like garbage.  Boys who were once friends -two of whom were considered his BEST friends- decided to tell him he was worthless. 

Here's an update.

My son has had nothing to do with any of them.  Cold turkey.  He has had a great summer enjoying his homeschool group of friends and really hasn't missed these other kids.

Now certain kids have been banned from playing at neighbor's houses.  One has moved away.  Now some of them want to be friends with my son again.

At first, the momma bear inside me want to growl and tell him to never speak to those turkeys again. 

But, alas, what does Jesus tell us?  Seventy seven times.  I can't argue with that.

So he went and played some backyard baseball with them and had a great time.

However...if he comes home again feeling like a huge ZERO, I might have to dig up the Biblical quote about not being anyone's 'punching bag' either.

But for now...it feels good to forgive.

Don't Just Hear It...Believe It!

“If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought.” James 1: 1-5

I love when I open the Bible or come across Scripture that makes me feel like God is high-fiving my forehead and telling me "This is for YOU, Knucklehead."   The above Scripture is one of those.

I am the kind of person who hates asking for help.  I don't *think* I am a control freak.  Maybe just a little.  The real reason I hate asking for help is I don't want to put anyone else out with my problems.  People have enough problems of their own.  They don't want to deal with mine.

So I came across that Scripture this morning and got the high-five forehead smack from God. 

It was uplifting.  It was just what I needed to hear.

Maybe some of you need to hear it too.  Not just hear it but BELIEVE it.

Thanks, God.

My Challenge

I read this quote recently..."When all else fails-just love them."

It was referring to moms getting frustrated with their children, but it struck a chord in me.  It should apply to everyone in our lives, not just the kids.

As my brain usually does, it started linking all these other ideas onto that one statement:

When they say something snarky or inappropriate- just love them.

When they unwittingly hurt your feelings-just love them.

When they take advantage of you-just love them.

When they gossip-just love them.

Because really, all of us have done one of the above at sometime or another.  I know I have.  And when I do I am so glad to know that when all else fails...The Father loves me. 

So my challenge today-when all else fails....just love them.

Irony

The cross was meant to mock Christ....instead, it became the symbol of His power.

The cross was meant to humiliate Him...instead, it became His glory.

The cross was meant to cause a hopeless death...instead, it became the hope of all mankind.

The cross was meant to stop Him....instead, it gave Him new life-and a new beginning for us all!

I love irony.