Good Tidings of Great Joy!

One of my most favorite shows to watch at Christmas, is "A Charlie Brown Christmas." There is just something about the scene where Charlie Brown asks "Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?" and Linus says, "Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about." Then Linus walks onto center stage, asks for the lights to dim, and starts sharing the Christmas story.

You see, Charlie Brown had been feeling down. While everyone else was hustling and bustling and being excited about Christmas and preparing for Christmas, he didn't feel the same "Christmas spirit."

How many of us feel the same way at Christmas? The Christmas carols are playing nonstop on the radio and in the stores, all the stores are decorated (and have been since Halloween, it seems), and people are running frantically about trying to find gifts. Sometimes we feel like all of this is happening around us but we just can't "feel" that Christmas spirit. Like Charlie Brown, we see the "trappings" of Christmas, but we don't feel "a part" of it.

Sometimes when life is busy and there are difficulties, I have struggled to "find" the Christmas spirit. It is when I stop to realize that the Christmas spirit is not about the hustle and the bustle and the trappings, that I remember...it is about remembering the most important gift of them all.

When Linus gets up on the stage to tell the Christmas story and all is quiet and the lights are dim, it helps me to focus on what is the most important. It helps me to have the "true Christmas Spirit."

Are you struggling this Christmas to find the "Christmas spirit?" It isn't about the carols, the tree, the lights or the gifts. It is about a gift that was given to you, to all of us so long ago...

...and the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a saviour, which is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:10-11)

Immanuel, God with us... A gift of hope... A gift of love... for all... for you.

As you watch the hustle and bustle around you, do not be discouraged, you have been given Good Tidings of Great Joy! Take time to read the Christmas story and know that long ago, before you were even born, a gift had been planned ahead of time, just for you! (Luke 2:8-14)

And, if you get the chance, listen to Linus share the Christmas Story on "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and be filled with the true "Christmas Spirit."

Joy to the World, the Lord is come!

What Mountains Need Moving In Your Life?

Did you ever take a drive in the mountains on a sunny day when, all of a sudden, around the next curve, the sun disappears and it's darker outside? You know it's because the mountain is blocking the sunlight, but you can't wait to get around the next curve to be back in the light!

Our lives with God are a lot like that.

We can be going along on our merry way when, all of sudden, we're in the dark. We thought everything was fine. We followed the road and stayed between the lines, so where did the darkness come from? Why has the way become unclear?

Sometimes it has to do with not paying attention to the signs along the way. Sometimes it's because we've taken a wrong turn or exit. A lot of the times it's because we've allowed an area in our lives to become a mountain.

You see, unlike the sun rising and setting, God never moves. His light remains to guide us. It is when we "move" in a wrong direction or allow a "mountain" to block out His light, that we are in the dark.

A "mountain" can be anything in your life that has grown big enough to block out your focus on God. It could be that you've gotten so busy that you don't have "time for God." It could be that you've been following your own way for so long that you didn't even notice you were "in the dark." Or it could be that a very real problem, hurt or situation has become so difficult that you can't see anything beyond it.

So how do we "get back into the light?" The bible tells us that His word is a lamp for our feet and a light to our path. (Psalm 119:105). In 1 John 1:5 we learn that God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all.

If we spend time reading His word, we can't help but be "in His light." His word can guide us in knowing which roads to take and give us the "signs" along the way.

What about those mountains?  Maybe it's time to "move them" or "remove" them. God is bigger than any mountain we could possibly have in our lives. The creator of the universe is more than capable of helping us to move any mountains. Nothing is too difficult for Him. (Jeremiah 32:17) In fact, He tells us that we can move the mountains, ourselves, with a little faith. (Mark 11:23).

What mountains do you have in your life that need moving? Do you want to be "back in the light?"

Spend time in the Word, follow the road "signs" and keep driving...it'll be just around the next curve!

Are You Trying to Have a Hallmark Family Moment with an "Addams" Family?

With Thanksgiving and Christmas coming soon, there will be a lot of family gatherings. With everyone gathering in one place to spend the holidays together, you may be envisioning the perfect "Hallmark" family get-together, with everyone happy and enjoying each other. The house will be decorated down to the smallest detail, including the holiday salt and pepper shakers. The food, of course, will be cooked perfectly and served on time, and your table will rival any image featured on the cover of the Southern Living magazine. At least that's what it looks like in your mind, right?

What happens, though, when your family is less "Hallmark" and more "Addams" family? (The Addams Family was a television show in the 1960's. Each member of the family was quirky and unusual. They did not look like anyone's idea of the "perfect" family, but they were a close family).

There is a lot of pressure and stress in trying to create the "perfect" family get-together. It's almost as if you think that if you "set the stage" and make all the arrangements and preparations, it "will be wonderful."

But that's not how real life is.

Did you grow up in a house where everyone "got along" with everyone else and life just went along smoothly? Probably not. Do you remember getting together with grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousins for the holidays? Did the visit always go smoothly or are you just remembering it that way?

When you mix together parents who work full-time, kids who'd rather be doing their own thing, and families traveling distances for the holiday, the odds are that things may not go smoothly. And when you toss in the individual personalities and issues that are ongoing in family relationships, it could even be "lumpy."

The thing is, you don't have to have a "Hallmark" family to be able to enjoy your family get-togethers. You just have to make the most of what you have and be thankful that you have it.

Let this holiday get-together be more about "being together" and less about "the perfect family moment." If you like to cook and have time for it, then enjoy your preparations. If you work full-time, however, consider buying a cooked turkey and having it sliced. You could have everyone bring an item and you could set up a "Holiday Buffet" with paper plates, napkins and colorful plasticware. Remember it's about the "being together" NOT the display.

Just a note about the people you may know who may not have family in the area to spend the holidays with. Invite them to your gathering. It will be a blessing to you both!

This year, make the decision to make the most of your holiday family get-togethers. Remember to "be in the moment" and make memories. It's not about the perfect family at the beautifully set table with the perfect menu, it's about the real people gathered together. We are not guaranteed tomorrow, so make the most of today... even if your family is more "Addams" than "Hallmark."

Are You A Master Gardener in Someone Else's Life?

My husband has an amazing gift for gardening. He can grow so many different kinds of plants and his specialty is orchids. They are beautiful! The time, care and nurturing he puts into the taking care of his plants shows in how they flourish. He truly has a "green thumb."

I, on the other hand, have a "black thumb." It doesn't matter how many different kinds of plants I try to grow or how much time I spend on them, they never seem to survive.

I am a Master Gardener, though, when it comes to nurturing, fertilizing and taking care of the loved ones in my life. I try to pay attention to their needs and am aware of their "growing" seasons and "dormant" seasons. I do my best to shine just the right amount of light (encouragement and wisdom) into their lives.

With all this tending to the other "gardens" in my family, I didn't realize that my own garden had gone dormant. Where there should've been buds and blooms, there were only stunted plants overshadowed by weeds.

Isn't it amazing how we can spend so much time taking care of others and forget completely about ourselves?

In the past year, I've been trying to learn more about me and what helps me to "grow." I'm trying things I've always talked about trying, but, until this year, never did.  I went to a writer's workshop in a town I'd never been to and with people I didn't know. I also went on a cruise.  I had so much fun at both and felt energized! It felt like coming out of a long sleep.

How is your garden growing? To quote my sister, "Are you Bonsai-gardening someone else's life and leaving your own to wither?" Bonsai gardening is a very detailed, labor-intensive, nurturing type of gardening. The careful, selective pruning at just the right time to shape the plant takes a lot of time. If you've ever seen the little Bonsai trees, it can take years to grow a very small, carefully shaped tree.

Are you spending so much time on everyone else that you've forgotten how to take care of yourself? Here's a test...ask yourself this..."If someone gave me a day all to myself to do whatever I want, would I have any idea what I would like to do?" If you can't come up with one thing you'd like to do, your garden has gone dormant and it's time to bring it into the sunlight and start nurturing it. Start by making a list of what you'd like to do. Have a "possibilities" list and a "dream" list. Do something off your "possibilities" list...soon...within the next month! Share your "dream" list with your loved ones. Sharing it helps you move toward  a "someday" of actually getting to do it.

It may take time for your garden to start growing again, but it's worth it. We weren't created to wither away, we were created to blossom and bloom!

Become a Master Gardener of yourself today. I guarantee you'll have a "green thumb" in YOU!

The Beautiful Day

Have you ever gotten up in the morning, looked outside and said "What a beautiful day!"?

This morning is like that. The sky is a cloudless blue with the Autumn sun glinting off the leaves on the trees. There is a gentle breeze blowing and the morning birds are waking the day with their song.

Nope. It doesn't get much better than this.

I love days like this, don't you? I could just sit outside and drink in the day. These kinds of days bring peace to my soul. The noise of everyday life fades away as I sit and enjoy the beauty.  Ahhh.....

There are many opportunities for "beautiful days" in our lives. I've noticed, though, that when my life is filled with stress about very real problems or with imagined potential difficulties, I don't notice the "beautiful days." Stress and worry always seem to take center stage, playing their annoying monologues in my head, drowning out the possibility of a "beautiful day." The sky could be a cloudless blue with a perfect breeze, but I would miss it because I was too busy paying attention to the noise in my head.

It is hard to notice the beautiful day when the car has broken down, the bills are due, or a loved one is sick. It almost feels like a betrayal to focus on something other than what is obviously more important. But maybe I've been doing it wrong. What if I spent time, a moment or a morning, drinking in the beautiful day to restore my soul and give me peace? Would it help me to focus better on the people or things needing my attention if I was able to have that foundation of peace? It would certainly quiet the running "what if's" so that I could pay attention to the "here and now."

The "here and now" is all that we really have. Each moment should be lived to its fullest. There will always be difficulties in our lives. We can choose to live each moment, appreciate the beautiful days, and pray for grace for those days that are overwhelming.

I love a beautiful day! I pray that I pay better attention to the beautiful days God puts in my life. I'm going to work on living my life to its fullest and let Him help me on those days that are harder.

What kind of days are beautiful to you?

Seek them out...immerse yourself in them...find rest for your soul.

This is the day the Lord has made! Let us rejoice and be glad in it!

When Music Ministers

I had the privilege of being in the music ministry for about 35 years. It was an amazing thing to be able to lead in sharing the love and presence of God through music. Music reaches down to our souls like nothing else can. While we may not always be able to remember a verse we read, the words of a song that touched our hearts can stay with us for a lifetime, lifting us in times of need and refreshing us from the inside out.

Standing onstage, leading worship, I've had the opportunity to witness the touch of music upon many people. Some people were fully engaged from the moment they walked through the doors of the church, high school auditorium, cafeteria, etc. It was as if they looked forward all week for the chance to be able to worship! They worshipped fully with hands raised, joyful faces, eyes closed. Others, would, hesitantly, clap along with the faster songs, and when the slower songs began, their eyes would close and you could tell they were in their own private worship time, oblivious to others around them. Still others, you could tell, came in carrying the weight of their world on their shoulders. For these people, it was a struggle just to come to church...just to put one foot in front of the other. I've seen what happens when the words of a song are exactly what that person needed to hear at that moment. The silent tears and the look of peace upon their faces. There was a comfort that was happening, a refreshing. Then there were others that sat with their arms crossed, faces set with a look that said, "try and reach me if you can." Sadly, these people don't realize all they are missing out on. For whatever reason, they've chosen not to engage. The music might be "too loud" or the church "too non-traditional" or the people "disrespectful because of how they're dressed."

Worship isn't about "others" or the "type of service" or even about "church" or "religion." Worship is about spending time with the One who loves us more than life, itself. It's a "one on one" relationship. When we spend time, one on one, with our Abba Father, we are spending time in the presence of love, being loved, being encouraged, and reminded that there is One who is greater than all the things that are happening in our world and He is more than able to handle all of it.

When we spend time in worship, we are not only worshipping Him, but His Spirit is ministering to us. We all need to be nourished, to be refreshed, to feel joyful and alive. When we sing, and engage, we are awakening that part of our souls. It doesn't matter what kind of voice we have. I cannot tell you how many times people have said to me..."I can't carry a tune in a bucket. If I sang, the people next to me would tell me to be quiet." To these people, I would say, don't you know that God knows the voice he gave to you? Your voice is music to His ears. Your singing is for your relationship with Him, not for the people next to you. To the people sitting next to that person, I would say, "If you are listening to the person next to you, you are not fully involved in your worship. Every voice is a sweet sound to His ears. Tune in to God and tune out to what's going on around you."

Music can minister to us wherever we choose to worship. We can be in a car, singing along as loud as we can. We can be at home, singing along while we're cleaning. We can be at work with our music playing softly in the background, when a favorite song comes on and just washes over us with peace. Sometimes, just reading the lyrics to a song, can minister to us. It doesn't matter where we are, because wherever we are, He is.

Find a song that really means something to you, that touches your very soul. Write down the words, sing it, listen to it. Engage, sing, and connect to your Father who loves you dearly and loves hearing your voice. You will be refreshed, you will be renewed, you will be ministered to.

Jamie Grace has written a song called "Beautiful Day." It's all about taking the time to "get your worship on." Take time today to "get your worship on."

What to Do When Your "Happily Ever After" Isn't

What do you do when your "happily ever after" doesn't turn out that way?

We grew up reading the fairytales and watching the Disney movies. There's the whole "prince" and "happily ever after" thing in each story. Sure, sometimes there's a wicked witch or an evil stepsister, but the story always turns out wonderfully, in the end.

The thing about those stories, is that they're not real life. Real life can be messy. Sometimes, there seems to be more "wicked witches" than "happily ever afters."

I think we really want to believe in the fairytale, in happy endings, and when things don't turn out the same as in the story we've written for ourselves, it can really get in the way of a true happy ending.

For those of us who have had a bad relationship experience in our past, we may need to examine the fairytale that might still be alive in us. If we don't, we may be in danger of repeating the story, much like the "Groundhog Day" movie. Are we still looking for the fairytale or the prince, the one who meets all of our needs and always tries to make us happy?

Relationships are made from real people with their own stories, coming together to join those stories and write a new one together. There simply are no "fairytale" people who live their lives completely for the other person's fulfillment, to ensure their happiness. (And if there were, we really wouldn't want that).

It is perfectly fine to look for someone who has the "good" qualities on our "list." We just have to be careful not to "write them" into our fairytale. Even if they really were a prince or princess, they will not always act in a "fairytale" way. Sometimes people act more like "wicked witches" than "princes or princesses." (We have only to look in a mirror on some days to see it in ourselves, right?)

So what do we do when our "happily ever after" wasn't?

The first thing we need to do is to appreciate and love who we are. (If we cannot do that, how can we expect anyone else to?) The God who created all things, made each of us. (See Psalm 139:14).  He loves us and made each of us unique with our own "good" qualities and gifts. We are simply amazing! He also has good plans for us. (See Jeremiah 29:11). You see, when we truly love and appreciate who we are, there is no end to the possibilities and plans for our future!

The second thing we need to do is to "rewrite" the ending. "How can I do that?" you ask, "the relationship is already over." Once you figure out that the "ending" is really the "beginning," you can write your new ending according to how you want your story to go. The relationship may be over, but your new life is just beginning. What would you like to do? How do you want your story to go? It is your chance, to be your own author, to write a new story.

"Happily Ever After" isn't just a phrase at the end of a fairytale, it can be how you choose to live your life, going forward. Life isn't a fairytale, but it is "your" story. There may be wicked witches, evil family members and trolls, but there could also be "fairy godmother-type" people who love you and are a blessing to you. How you choose to live your story is up to you.

How will you write your "happily ever after?" Make it an amazing, interesting journey. Fill it with people and things you love. Love yourself and really "live" your story, starting today!

...and she lived happily ever after!

IMD's and Comfort Zones

The first weekend in June, I actually got to do something that was on my IMD (In My Dreams) list AND was out of my Comfort Zone.

If you've read my previous blog posts, you'll remember I spoke about waiting in a store to get a signed book for a friend and speaking with the person next to me. We both talked about how we'd like to "someday" write a book. We talked about actually planning it one day and the other person said, "IMD - In my dreams!"

My most recent blog entry was on Comfort Zones becoming danger zones and how we need to step out of them.

The first weekend in June, I flew to a town I've never been to, where I didn't know a soul and, once there, had no way to get around. "Why would you do that?" you may ask. Well...I had the most amazing opportunity to attend a writer's workshop given by someone whom I respect greatly and whose writing and speaking has made a difference in my life. This workshop was just outside of Nashville, Tennessee. Although, I'd never been there, and wouldn't know anyone, when the idea presented itself, I just couldn't stop thinking about it.

Have you ever had an opportunity to do something that sounded exciting to you, but you'd have to stretch yourself to take advantage of it? That's what this was like. When I first heard about it, I said to myself "Are you crazy? You don't know anyone there. What would you do once you got there?" (I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who has reacted that way when thinking about trying something new, right?) The more I thought about it, the more excited I got about it. I made the reservations for the workshop, flight and hotel. The excitement of looking forward to the workshop far outweighed the discomfort of the unknown!

The day of my adventure, I could barely contain myself! Everything from getting on the plane, to arriving in Nashville to see someone holding a sign with my name on it, to being driven directly to my hotel where I had a room on the top floor, was amazing! I had the whole evening to myself. The hotel had dinner available and, afterward, I could go back to my room and watch any TV channel I wanted to, or I could just read...or do nothing. Sometimes just having the time to simply do nothing, is a gift. (I know the moms out there can relate).

I was able to connect with one of the other workshop attendees before the workshop. Since she was driving to the workshop, she graciously offered to take anyone to the workshop who did not already have a ride. She and a friend were arriving late the same night and staying in the same hotel. The next day, they invited me to come along on their planned sight-seeing adventure. I had the BEST time!!!!! We walked around historic Franklin, tried Shrimp and Grits at 55 South and had a cupcake tasting at Ivey Cake.

That night, and the next day, was spent at the writer's workshop. I consider it one of the most valuable investments in my own life. To give wings to a dream that had been "sitting on the nest" for most of my life, awakened a part of me that I thought was long gone. This workshop helped me to find that part of my soul that yearned to create, to express, to feel. I may not have a "flight plan out of the nest" for my writing yet, but I'm certainly training to get my pilot's license!

The last day of my adventure, was just that....an adventure. It turns out that my prearranged ride to the airport didn't show up. Talk about being WAY out of my comfort zone! I'm a planner, by nature, and am much more comfortable if I have things planned ahead of time. I can be spontaneous, but not when it comes to catching an airplane. Yikes! Well, God had it all under control. (Isn't that just like him?). I had been chatting with one of the other workshop attendees while I was waiting for my ride.  She was just checking out and headed home, driving to another state. When she learned of my predicament, she offered to drive me to the airport. Now she wasn't from around the area, but she was willing to drive me there so I could make my flight. We had the chance to get to know each other better during the drive to the airport and found out we have a lot in common. We traded contact information when she dropped me off at the airport, just in time for my flight.  Hooray!

Just think of all the amazing things I would have missed out on if I had not taken that step out of my comfort zone. I had so much fun, received so much inspiration from the workshop, and made new friends all in a weekend's time! The workshop enabled me to get back in touch with my creative soul and gave me the "push out of the nest" that I needed to work toward my dream of writing a book. I met new friends who are taking similar journeys in writing. Most of all, though, I learned that sometimes, taking that step out of a comfort zone can lead to an amazing adventure that might be just what you need.

One of my favorite poets, Robert Frost, wrote a poem that still speaks to me today. "The Road Not Taken" speaks about two pathways through a forest, one well-travelled, one not. The last lines in the stanza read, "Two roads diverged into a wood, and I-   I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference."

Think about your dreams and your comfort zones today. What would you like to do? Are you being held back by your comfort zone? Think about what you could be missing. Think about what it would be like if you tried it. Go for it!

(A side note: If you'd like to find out more information about the "Shaking Your Tree" workshop, I've included a link to the website. I'm SO glad I went!)

Comfort Zone or Danger Zone

Life is full of "zones." Some of them are good zones like quiet zones in libraries or fun zones in restaurants that have a game area for kids. Some zones are safety-related like the Work Zones on a highway or Construction Zones on a work site. There are also Danger Zones with signs to warn you to keep away like "Bridge Out" or "Rip Tides-No Swimming."

What about "Comfort Zones?" A Comfort Zone is where we feel the most comfortable. It's where we feel safe, where things are familiar. Everyone needs a Comfort Zone from time to time. We can relax and be ourselves. There are no unanticipated changes in our Comfort Zones, no surprises.

The problem with Comfort Zones is that they can become Danger Zones. When we stay in our Comfort Zones so long that we don't want to venture out of them, they can be a danger to all that we are and could become. You see if we always stay safe in our Comfort Zones, we'll never have the opportunity to see what else might be out there for us. We may miss out on some wonderful experiences.

Sometimes we stay in our Comfort Zones because of difficult situations in our lives or because we don't like change. I'll admit I have my own Comfort Zone. I don't mind change, I just don't like it to happen all at once.

There is a story in the Bible about Peter, one of the disciples of Jesus, that makes me think about Comfort Zones. The story (Matthew 14:22-33) talks about how Jesus had sent the disciples on ahead of him in a boat. The story goes on to tell about while the boat was out on the water, Jesus walked on the water to the disciples. When they saw him, they were afraid because they thought he was a ghost. Jesus called out to them and told them not to be afraid, that it was him. Peter said, "Lord, if it's you, tell me to come to you on the water."

Isn't that a little like what we do when we're faced with something that's out of our Comfort Zone? Don't we toss out challenges like If it's really you, God, then give me a sign. The problem is if we don't get a satisfactory answer, we don't move from our comfort zone.

So what did Peter do? When Jesus said "Come," he got out of the boat and walked on the water towards Jesus. While he was walking on the water, though, he began to look at the wind on the waves, became afraid and began to sink. Peter called out to Jesus and Jesus reached out his hand and saved him.

How often do we focus on the reasons why we can't do something instead of trying something new? Peter was actually WALKING on the water!! How amazing is that!! I think he started thinking about how it couldn't be possible and that's why he began to sink. But he did get out of the boat. How many times do we "stay in the boat?"

Is there something you've always wanted to try, but you're afraid to take that first step? Is there a trip you wanted to take to visit someplace you've never been, but you're afraid because you've never done anything like that before? What might you be missing out on by staying in your Comfort Zone?

Don't let your Comfort Zone become a Danger Zone.  A Comfort Zone is a place to visit when you need to, but always remember this: Your Comfort Zone is a NO PARKING Zone!  Get up, get out, get moving and step out of the boat!

William GT Shedd, a theologian, teacher and pastor, said this, "A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for."


Step out of the boat, and start a new adventure!

Baggage Claim

I enjoy traveling and don't mind flying, but the whole "baggage" thing gets tiresome. There are just so many rules now. Don't get me wrong, I know the rules are to keep us safe, but it's hard to keep up with them, sometimes. You have to go online to check out the baggage fees for the airline you are flying with, then check what is and is not allowed to be packed. You also have to check their measurement rules for "carry on" bags. If you are "checking" a bag that won't be carried on, you need to put your contact information on a little tag on the bag, in case it gets lost.  Then there's the whole "getting on the plane, finding your seat, and trying to find an empty place in an overhead bin where your carry on bag fits." Then, once you get to your destination, you go to Baggage Claim to wait for your checked bag to appear on the conveyor belt.  By the time you get where you're going, you're exhausted.

Personal baggage gets tiresome, too.

I'm talking about the kind of baggage we keep in our hearts and minds. Oh, sometimes, I know, we "check" our bags for awhile and put them out of our minds and hope they'll get lost, but they always seem to come back around to us with the tag that says "I'm yours! Pick me up!"

Some of us, like me, are stuffers. We'll stuff the baggage "under the seat or in the overhead bin" and ignore it for awhile.  Sooner or later, though, we arrive to where we take it back out and have to carry it again.

We even make up our own rules for our personal baggage. "If I move to a different place, job, etc., all will be better." Or how about, "if I marry the right person who understands me, I'll be happy." The most common rule, however, is "if I ignore it long enough, it will go away."

The thing about personal baggage is, if you never unpack it...it never goes away.

Personal baggage will wear you down, tire you out, steal your happiness, and, sometimes, make you sick.

Some of us have reasons why we haven't "unpacked our baggage." Sometimes it's because it was so painful, we don't ever want to see it again. Sometimes, it's because it's been packed away for so long, we don't even remember it's there, so it's been sitting in "unclaimed baggage."

Jesus came so that we could enjoy life and live fully. (John 10:10 AMP) When we carry our baggage and never unpack it, we are missing out on all that He has for us. We are missing out on freedom and happiness. He never meant for us to carry our baggage, for it to wear us down.  In Matthew 11:28, He tells us "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." He even tells us in 1 Peter 5:7 to "cast our cares (anxieties, worries, baggage) on Him, for He cares for us."

Jesus is in the "unpacking" business.  Let Him "claim" your baggage.  Give it to Him and leave it there.   The next time it tries to come around on that "conveyor belt," don't pick it up. It doesn't belong to you anymore. The name on the tag has been changed to "Jesus."

I'm look forward to traveling lighter, how about you?

Personal Weather Alerts - Now wouldn't that be helpful!

I live in an area that gets a lot of thunderstorms and sometimes they are really bad. Between the wind, dark sky, lightning and thunder, it can get scary. It has been helpful to me to have a "weather alert" app on my phone. It alerts me of the possibility of bad weather in my area so I can prepare and be safe.  (And comfort my dog, who is terrified of storms).

Wouldn't it be helpful if we, as human beings, could have personal weather alerts?

What if we'd had a long, hard day at work where there was one issue after another and then we had to fight traffic on the way home and someone else almost caused us to be in an accident? Wouldn't it be helpful if we had a personal weather alert system that would warn our loved ones that our current weather might be stormy?

What if we really didn't get enough sleep the night before and weren't feeling particularly cheerful in the morning? Our weather alert could be partly cloudy.

What would really be helpful, though, is if we were going through a rough time in our lives, there could be a weather alert that said that we were mostly cloudy, with a strong chance of rain, so please pray for me. You wouldn't have to say anything. Your friends and loved ones would just "know."

Sometimes it would be helpful if the other person had weather alerts. If someone you knew was angry, for example, a fire alert might be helpful. You would know to steer clear, because the likelihood of an argument would be high and you could come back when the alert had expired.

As helpful as personal weather alerts would be, that isn't real life.  In real life, sometimes we're grouchy, angry, stormy and sad. We have good days and we have bad days.  If we've had a particularly difficult day, it might be helpful to let our loved ones know ahead of time so they could be supportive and understanding when we got home.  If we're feeling grumpy, we should try not to "act" grumpy because we might feel better as the day goes on.  And if we are going through a rough time in our lives, we should seek comfort from friends and loved ones who can help us and pray for us.

The weather where I live can be changeable at this time of the year. I, however, need to be aware of my personal weather. I'm going to try to be better about communicating my alerts. I may not always be able to predict or control my personal weather, due to situations in life, but I can work on how I relate to others while in the midst of my weather. Too bad there isn't a "Personal Weather Channel" where we could know our personal weather 10 days ahead of time, right?

What? Me, Worry?

I don't know about you, but I struggle with worrying.  I've read so many things on the subject, listened to wonderful teachings and I have my faith. Yet, I still struggle with it. It's one of those areas in my life where I am still a WIP (Work In Progress).

Part of the problem is that I'm a thinker.  I analyze situations and try to plan ahead so that I can be prepared. The other part of the problem is that I'm a mom.  Moms always worry about their children and have no trouble imagining the ways they can get hurt.  (Any mom who's had a child ask for a skateboard knows this).

There are so many "what if's" in life.  It is difficult not to worry when faced with life's challenges, when we don't know what the future holds for our situation.

Sometimes when I "put in too much time" worrying, God reminds me of the verses in His word that He has had to remind me of over and over again. Matthew 6:25-26 says, "Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your body, what to eat or drink or what to wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air, they do not reap or sow or store up in barns, yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"

Sometimes His reminder is in a song on the radio, sometimes it shows up in my daily readings, and sometimes, like today, it shows up right in front of me.

I was outside walking the dogs this morning and listening to the birds sing. (I love to listen to them sing!) All of sudden I saw movement out of the corner of my eye.  We had rain overnight and there was a puddle in my yard.  There were two birds in the puddle, splashing and taking a bath. As I watched them, I knew. I knew He was reminding me.  If He can provide a bath for the birds, He can take care of me.

I know I need to just trust Him.  If I, as a parent who loves my children and wants to take care of their needs, then how much more will my Father in heaven want to take care of me? I need to let go of the worrying.  If I'm worrying, I'm not trusting.  More importantly, if I'm worrying, I'm missing out on today. I read somewhere that "today is the tomorrow that we worried about yesterday." Seems like such a waste of time, doesn't it?

I choose, today, to live for today and trust Him with my tomorrows.  And if I feel the need to start worrying again...I'm going birdwatching!

"Cloud-ed" Thinking

Driving to work at this time of the year, I get to see many sunrises.  (I know, that's one way to look on the bright side, right? --- No pun intended).  The road I drive on has several overpasses and, often, by the time I get to the last one, the sun is just coming up over the horizon.  It is a beautiful sight every time that I see it!

Some mornings are clear and the sun shines so brightly that the sky just glows.  On other mornings there are clouds on the horizon, sometimes even hiding the sun.  It is those mornings, though, when there are clouds, that I enjoy the sunrise the most. It seems that the sun reflects on, shines on, shines through and gilds the edges of the clouds! It is simply spectacular!

Life can be a lot like clouds and sunrises.  When things are going smoothly in our lives, it's a beautiful day, but when things are difficult, it can seem dark and gloomy and full of clouds.

When the clouds in my life get to be too much and make it difficult for me to think there will be sunshine again, I remind myself of a flight I was on many years ago.

It was a dark, stormy day, raining "cats and dogs" and I was on a plane getting ready to take off.  I have to be honest. I sure didn't like the idea of taking off through those dark clouds.  As the plane took off, it lifted higher and higher through layer after layer of thick, dark clouds.  As I was watching out the window, all of sudden, we broke through the clouds.  It was the most amazing thing! The sky was crystal blue and the sun was dazzlingly bright!  I can still remember how it looked after all this time.  I even remember the thought that I had at that moment.  "Wow, there's sunshine just beyond the gray clouds. I have to remember that!"

You see, even though we may only see gray clouds for now, sunshine and blue skies are just beyond those gray clouds.  You just never know when the sunrise will break through your situation and shine beautiful colors into your life.  And sometimes, the gray clouds in our lives help us see and appreciate the "sunshiny" days even more.

There is a quote written by Langston Hughes that says "Oh God of dust and rainbows, help us to see, that without the dust, the rainbow would not be."

Whether there is "dust" or there are "clouds" in our lives, we need only to look for the sunshine and blue skies.  We can look for the sun to shine through our circumstances. In Hebrews 11:1, it says "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Look at the clouds in your life and expect God to make a beautiful sunrise out of it. It's going to be spectacular, I just know it!

"I've Become My Mother?"

Have you ever said, or heard someone say, "I've become my mother" or "I opened my mouth and my mother's voice came out"?

When we say, "I've become my mother" it usually isn't because we're reflecting on behavior we wanted to copy, it's because we copied the behavior we never wanted to copy."

As it usually is between parents and children, children don't like the way they are "parented."  Sadly, some children have very valid reasons. For most children, though, it usually has to do with everyday parenting.  "Don't do this...don't do that...how many times have I told you?" and on and on.  Some parents are big on guilt trips to try to get their children to do what they want.  Some parents seem to have a list of rules a mile long.  Some parents are just the opposite...they give no boundaries.

Many children say, "When I have children, I'm going to do things differently!" Then they grow up, have children and are surprised when they've acted the same way.

The way to "do things differently" is to make a change in ourselves. We don't have to listen to the "I can't change because it runs in our family" thoughts or the "I'll never change" thoughts," change can happen, if we want it. We don't have to stay the same, repeating mistakes and behaviors.  We don't even have to be "tied" to behaviors that run in our families.

There is a verse in the Bible that says "Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17).  That verse gives me great hope.  It tells me that if I am in Him, I am a new creation (brand new, never seen before). I am not tied to past behaviors - family history or my own. With His help, I can change.

So, how do we make a change? We need to look at what needs to be changed.  Do we need to change the way we think or react or do we need to change a behavior or our way of thinking? We may need to ask ourselves if we need help with making a change.  Whatever the change, it can be done.

I was listening to an old Harry Chapin song the other day called "Cat's In the Cradle." The song talks about a dad who was too busy to be involved in his son's life, then the son grows up and is too busy to be in his dad's life.  The son always said, growing up, that he would be "just like his dad." At the end of the song, the dad realizes that his son "grown up, just like him."

It's never too late to make a change.  Our children will always be our children.  We can choose to make the changes we need to make.  We can share with our children that we are trying to make changes.  We can show that we want better for ourselves and our children.  When they see us in the change process, it can be an example for them, too.  Who knows, maybe someday, one of our children will say "I've become my mother" and it will be a good thing!

New Year's Resolution? Not me!

How many of us make a resolution for change on New Year's Eve about something we really want to change in our lives?  We're all about making it happen.  We'll read books on the subject, sign up for gym memberships, start journals or ______________ (fill in the blank). We'll be passionate about it for the first few weeks (or even less).  Then life continues and we get busy. We'll make excuses to ourselves about why we haven't been able to keep the resolution.  Before we know it, time has passed and we realize that we didn't "keep" our resolutions. We feel guilty.  We feel like we've failed.  We feel like "nothing will ever change."

When you think about it, it's a pretty terrible way to start a New Year, isn't it?

What if the resolution we made was not to have any more New Year's resolutions?

I stopped making New Year's resolutions years ago.  It wasn't that I couldn't keep them (I failed more often than not), it was the realization that I am a WIP, a Work In Progress.  I don't need to make a "resolution" on New Year's Eve. What I need to do is to examine my life on a regular basis to see what changes can be made and then work toward making them.  It still takes effort, determination, and self-discipline on my part, but I also spend time in prayer asking for help to make the change.  In Philippians 4:13 it says that "I can do all things through Him who gives me strength." When I am struggling to keep on a path to change, I know that I am not alone. I can turn to the One who helps me. He knows I'm a Work In Progress and loves me anyway.

What if we decided, today, not to make any more New Year's resolutions?  What if we decided, instead, to work on those areas in our lives throughout the year?  To remember that it's ok to be Works In Progress?

New Year's Resolution? Not me!