Growing up I pretty much thought of Thanksgiving as a good time to get out of school and, more importantly, the jumping off point for Christmas! It was a time to get together with cousins and aunts and uncles and eat all the traditional Thanksgiving foods. Well mostly traditional. I remember when a new cousin-in-law brought enchiladas. That was many years ago and no one had a clue what they were! While the food was always plentiful and always good, I couldn't wait til we drew names for Christmas gifts. (Funny thing, we always had a lot of food at Christmas too but I didn't know that until I was a teenager. I never got passed the living room where the tree stood guarding all those presents!)
Now that I'm older---and so is everyone else---Thanksgiving has a whole new meaning. I still consider it the jumping off point for Christmas. And, unlike my 7th grade Geography teacher, I don't start listening to Christmas music right after Thanksgiving dinner....I've been listening for weeks....and blessing my family with text videos of me driving and singing along with the radio....right now tough it's time to give thanks.
So, here I go. I'm thankful for my husband who works way too hard to provide for our family. It took me a long time to realize that working hard to provide for us was his love language. And I'm thankful that he has passed this example down to our kids. He also gave them the desire to learn. They are brilliant! Yes, I'm bragging. But I'm also very thankful that we have been blessed with kids who are so smart! My family constantly amazes me and I am truly blessed.
I'm thankful that this year that we've gotten to spend more time together as a family than we had in many years. And we have pictures to prove it! Some of the pictures are a bit goofy but we have pictures none the less. I'm also thankful for the time my husband and I got to get away this summer, just the two of us. There are certainly advantages in having grown kids!
There are a lot of in-law jokes. But I'm not making any. I am so blessed to have in-laws who regularly let me know they love me and think of me as their daughter. We call each other when we need prayer and we call each other to announce those prayers are answered. Now how many people can say that?
I'm thankful for a mom who taught me never to give up. You can't tell that little lady that she can't do something. She'll show you! Maybe it's because she's tiny and felt like she had to prove herself. Maybe it was just born in her. But she doesn't give up. And she is also quite the prayer warrior. Just call her and tell her what's up. She's praying before she hangs up the phone.
When I was a little girl, we were all 5 piled inside the cab of my dad's pick up truck. I remember we were arriving in the front yard of Great-Aunt Dolly's house. I don't know who was being discussed, in fact I don't think I even knew the person my parents were talking about. But my dad said "She's not a lady. There's a difference between a woman and a lady." That stuck with me and I've thought about it many times over the years. I'm thankful that my dad, unknowingly, defined for me just what being a lady meant. A lady is upstanding, of good reputation, basically who we read about in Proverbs 31. And a lady is who I always want to be.
I'm thankful for our amazing little Pippa! That little dog has brought so much fun into our lives. We didn't realize what we were missing in our home until we got her. She chews up favorite shoes, clothes and hats. Even ate a credit card. But she is quickly forgiven and the next thing you know she's being carried around, hugged or taught a new trick.
Friendship. Wow. What can I say? This year I've experienced restoration in friendships. I've been blessed with new friends. God has allowed me to not only be supported by friends but He has allowed me to use the things I've gone through to help friends, old and new. Oh I am sooo thankful! No trial we go through is for naught if we give give our whole lives to the Lord.
I'm thankful for laughter. I've realized over the years that I tend to be on the serious side and not always enjoy life. That's not what life is about. Yes, we must have seriousness. But we need fun too! Proverbs 17:22 tells us that a cheerful heart is good medicine. I don't know if it's age or just finally taking a cue from my husband and kids, but I'm learning to laugh and I love it! They can turn almost any situation into something fun and I'm ever so thankful for that.....most of the time! They may not always get my humor but I'm trying!
Most of all, I'm thankful for Jesus. Our Savior. Our God. I really don't know how anyone survives without Him. Our God is truly the God of second and third and forth and even more chances. He forgives and forgets. He wants what's best for us so much that He even allows struggles to come into our lives so we can truly have amazing lives. God has allowed me to grow and trust Him. I thought I already did. But I'm learning I didn't really trust Him before. I tried to do everything on my own. Thank You Lord for teaching me to trust You. For showing me that You ALWAYS keep your promises! Thank You for sacrificing everything so that I may live.
Well there's a lot more I'm thankful for but that's for another day. :)
Monday, November 24, 2014
Friday, November 14, 2014
Legacy
This week I cleaned out a closet. It's that closet everybody has where things are kept that you don't always use but can't get rid of. Those odd items that don't really have another place. Old cassette tapes, VCR tapes of the kids that have long since been converted to DVDs. The glue gun along with various crafting materials. And quilts.
Quilts are something that have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I love quilts. There's nothing like a cold winter night under a pile of quilts! But the quilts in this closet are special. They are part of our legacy. Quilts that belonged to both of my grandmothers and one of my husband's grandmothers. In fact, they didn't just belong to them. Along with aunts, mothers, sisters and other ladies, our grandmothers made these quilts.
Just what is a legacy? The Bible says that (Proverbs 22:1) a good name is to be chosen rather than great riches. Ecclesiastes 7:1 tells us that a good name is better than perfume. A man gives his name to his bride when they marry (I still love writing my married name after 25 years! In fact I told my husband recently that it still makes me smile after all these years.) A man gives his name to his children. A good name is a legacy. You are known by that name. Unfortunately a name connected with a bad reputation is also a legacy. Whatever the case, a man's name is a huge part of his legacy.
But a quilt. My mom used to go to the 'quilting' every Tuesday when we were kids. All the church ladies would meet and quilt and talk and eat. Those ladies made some amazing quilts. But the quilts in this closet were much older for the most part. Heavy with that old cotton stuffing. One in particular was apparently made for my paternal grandparents by ladies of the community, maybe 80 years ago or more. Each square has an 'H' for Hale, which is my maiden name and of course their surname. Embroidered inside the H's were the names of the people who made the squares (some had names of husbands and wives....romantic even!) and helped make the quilt. It's absolutely amazing. Every time I see it I imagine that quilting bee where the ladies gathered together quilting, sharing recipes, talking about their husbands and watching their kids as they ran around the room playing. So not only is that amazing piece of artwork a legacy, so are the memories that go with them. The patchwork quilts made from scraps of material from dresses and shirts.
When I think of my grandmothers though, there is a lot more than quilts in the legacies they left. Both had very hard lives. Both were marriage standers when no one even knew what that meant. One raised seven kids and one raised two. Both stood by their husbands during very difficult years. The way the world sees things today, my grandmothers would have been expected to give up and move on. I am so grateful they didn't.
My maternal grandmother lost two babies and raised two kids. She made everything from soap to clothes to a plaque we have hanging over our dining table today just like she had hanging over hers more than 50 years ago. She stood by my grandpa, enduring difficult times and doing things women today would consider way beneath them. I've watched her pluck chickens, pasteurize milk and make any dress or outfit I could come up with. She spent her Sunday afternoons cutting hair for the men and boys of the family and then making dinner for all of us. And when my grandpa became ill and had to be moved to a nursing home, she went to see him every chance she got. She continued giving him haircuts just like she had done for almost 70 years. She made sure all his belongings were labeled and accounted for. They attended church together at the nursing home and worshiped the Lord together despite their circumstances. And she loved him.
My paternal grandmother raised seven children. She, too, stood by her husband. A woman in her shoes today would be considered off her rocker if she 'put up' with things my grandmother put up with. But she stood. And it paid off. I didn't realize just how much until about a week ago when I came across the sheet music for a song my grandpa had asked me to sing for him when I was a teenager. The song, "I Have Returned", felt like torture to me as I would perform it in churches back then. I didn't like the music or the words. The song seemed ridiculously long and my dad even timed me when I would sing it to see just how long it really was. But when I came across it last week and sat down at the piano, the words came alive! I realized why it was so important to my grandpa. The words spoke of being a prodigal and returning to the Lord. They were deep and meaningful and I couldn't believe I didn't realize it sooner. He loved the song because he had been that prodigal. And he had returned. And I'm so glad my grandmother stood. She prayed. And she loved him.
So what will your legacy be? Will you leave a good name? Will you teach your kids how to love and respect their spouse? Will you show them you chose to live according to God's Word instead of according to the opinions of the world? What will the patches in your patchwork quilt include? Will it be there for your grandchildren to remind them of a godly legacy? It's up to you. What kind of legacy will you leave?
Quilts are something that have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I love quilts. There's nothing like a cold winter night under a pile of quilts! But the quilts in this closet are special. They are part of our legacy. Quilts that belonged to both of my grandmothers and one of my husband's grandmothers. In fact, they didn't just belong to them. Along with aunts, mothers, sisters and other ladies, our grandmothers made these quilts.
Just what is a legacy? The Bible says that (Proverbs 22:1) a good name is to be chosen rather than great riches. Ecclesiastes 7:1 tells us that a good name is better than perfume. A man gives his name to his bride when they marry (I still love writing my married name after 25 years! In fact I told my husband recently that it still makes me smile after all these years.) A man gives his name to his children. A good name is a legacy. You are known by that name. Unfortunately a name connected with a bad reputation is also a legacy. Whatever the case, a man's name is a huge part of his legacy.
But a quilt. My mom used to go to the 'quilting' every Tuesday when we were kids. All the church ladies would meet and quilt and talk and eat. Those ladies made some amazing quilts. But the quilts in this closet were much older for the most part. Heavy with that old cotton stuffing. One in particular was apparently made for my paternal grandparents by ladies of the community, maybe 80 years ago or more. Each square has an 'H' for Hale, which is my maiden name and of course their surname. Embroidered inside the H's were the names of the people who made the squares (some had names of husbands and wives....romantic even!) and helped make the quilt. It's absolutely amazing. Every time I see it I imagine that quilting bee where the ladies gathered together quilting, sharing recipes, talking about their husbands and watching their kids as they ran around the room playing. So not only is that amazing piece of artwork a legacy, so are the memories that go with them. The patchwork quilts made from scraps of material from dresses and shirts.
When I think of my grandmothers though, there is a lot more than quilts in the legacies they left. Both had very hard lives. Both were marriage standers when no one even knew what that meant. One raised seven kids and one raised two. Both stood by their husbands during very difficult years. The way the world sees things today, my grandmothers would have been expected to give up and move on. I am so grateful they didn't.
My maternal grandmother lost two babies and raised two kids. She made everything from soap to clothes to a plaque we have hanging over our dining table today just like she had hanging over hers more than 50 years ago. She stood by my grandpa, enduring difficult times and doing things women today would consider way beneath them. I've watched her pluck chickens, pasteurize milk and make any dress or outfit I could come up with. She spent her Sunday afternoons cutting hair for the men and boys of the family and then making dinner for all of us. And when my grandpa became ill and had to be moved to a nursing home, she went to see him every chance she got. She continued giving him haircuts just like she had done for almost 70 years. She made sure all his belongings were labeled and accounted for. They attended church together at the nursing home and worshiped the Lord together despite their circumstances. And she loved him.
My paternal grandmother raised seven children. She, too, stood by her husband. A woman in her shoes today would be considered off her rocker if she 'put up' with things my grandmother put up with. But she stood. And it paid off. I didn't realize just how much until about a week ago when I came across the sheet music for a song my grandpa had asked me to sing for him when I was a teenager. The song, "I Have Returned", felt like torture to me as I would perform it in churches back then. I didn't like the music or the words. The song seemed ridiculously long and my dad even timed me when I would sing it to see just how long it really was. But when I came across it last week and sat down at the piano, the words came alive! I realized why it was so important to my grandpa. The words spoke of being a prodigal and returning to the Lord. They were deep and meaningful and I couldn't believe I didn't realize it sooner. He loved the song because he had been that prodigal. And he had returned. And I'm so glad my grandmother stood. She prayed. And she loved him.
So what will your legacy be? Will you leave a good name? Will you teach your kids how to love and respect their spouse? Will you show them you chose to live according to God's Word instead of according to the opinions of the world? What will the patches in your patchwork quilt include? Will it be there for your grandchildren to remind them of a godly legacy? It's up to you. What kind of legacy will you leave?
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
The Shadow of Goliath or the Shadow of the Cross
The thought keeps coming to me.....would you rather be David slinging the stone at the giant or would you rather be the one the giant falls on when he is defeated? David was just a kid. But He knew God even then. (Yes David failed the Lord as an adult. But Psalm 51 was written by David as he repented of his sin. Oh thank God for His merciful second chances that He offers us over and over again!)
When David chose those stones, He was acting out of obedience to God. Not even the strongest or bravest soldier had been able to defeat the giant. And when David asked for the opportunity, those tough guys didn't know what to think. They tried to outfit him in their armor but it wouldn't fit.....same as us when we try to be protected by any armor other than the Armor of God (Ephesians 6). No other armor will do.
A little piece of leather, 3 stones, and an obedient heart. David needed nothing else. And what happened? David did something no big strong soldier had ever been able to do. He defeated the giant! Not for a minute. Not for a day. FOREVER!
But what about those who were laughing at David? Those standing on the same side as Goliath. Those who didn't believe. The Word doesn't tell us this happened, but it could have. What about those who didn't get out of the way and were crushed under the weight when the giant fell?
Ever feel like you are facing a giant? A giant of the past. A giant of denying God. So many horrible things clinging on to you that it appears impossible to get out of it. So when that giant comes crashing down, and it will, who will be crushed under that weight? When lies are exposed, who will be hurt? Those you love the most perhaps? Most likely. When 'secrets' come to light, and they will, who will be crushed under that weight?
Crushed. Those who have not repented. Those who did not believe. Those who did not obey. And those closest to them. Those who thought it wouldn't happen. Those caught off guard when that giant is brought down by God.
So we have a choice. Be crushed under the weight of the giant when it falls. Or be obedient like David. Whether God is telling you to face that giant head on like David did or simply deny that giant and get away from it, the important thing is to obey Him.
Whether you obey God about that giant or whether you deny Him, one day that giant will be defeated. FOREVER! Where will you stand? In the shadow of the giant as it falls? Or in the shadow of the Cross where all of our sins are forgive. All our circumstances brought on by bad decisions. Every thing we have done wrong. Every sin. It all disappears with one drop of the pure blood of Jesus Christ. And a bonus. Once God forgives us of a sin, He will NEVER remind us of it again. We are free in Him. Do you know Him? Would you like to?
When David chose those stones, He was acting out of obedience to God. Not even the strongest or bravest soldier had been able to defeat the giant. And when David asked for the opportunity, those tough guys didn't know what to think. They tried to outfit him in their armor but it wouldn't fit.....same as us when we try to be protected by any armor other than the Armor of God (Ephesians 6). No other armor will do.
A little piece of leather, 3 stones, and an obedient heart. David needed nothing else. And what happened? David did something no big strong soldier had ever been able to do. He defeated the giant! Not for a minute. Not for a day. FOREVER!
But what about those who were laughing at David? Those standing on the same side as Goliath. Those who didn't believe. The Word doesn't tell us this happened, but it could have. What about those who didn't get out of the way and were crushed under the weight when the giant fell?
Ever feel like you are facing a giant? A giant of the past. A giant of denying God. So many horrible things clinging on to you that it appears impossible to get out of it. So when that giant comes crashing down, and it will, who will be crushed under that weight? When lies are exposed, who will be hurt? Those you love the most perhaps? Most likely. When 'secrets' come to light, and they will, who will be crushed under that weight?
Crushed. Those who have not repented. Those who did not believe. Those who did not obey. And those closest to them. Those who thought it wouldn't happen. Those caught off guard when that giant is brought down by God.
So we have a choice. Be crushed under the weight of the giant when it falls. Or be obedient like David. Whether God is telling you to face that giant head on like David did or simply deny that giant and get away from it, the important thing is to obey Him.
Whether you obey God about that giant or whether you deny Him, one day that giant will be defeated. FOREVER! Where will you stand? In the shadow of the giant as it falls? Or in the shadow of the Cross where all of our sins are forgive. All our circumstances brought on by bad decisions. Every thing we have done wrong. Every sin. It all disappears with one drop of the pure blood of Jesus Christ. And a bonus. Once God forgives us of a sin, He will NEVER remind us of it again. We are free in Him. Do you know Him? Would you like to?
Sunday, November 2, 2014
To Be a Masterpiece
Ever looked at a Masterpiece and wondered just how it came to be? Was it created by a novice? Probably not. Was it created quickly? Ummm...no. A Masterpiece can only be created by one....a Master.
Did you ever try to fix a broken piece of pottery, a picture frame or even touch up a painting that had faded? Didn't work very well did it? Cracks show and paint doesn't match. Unless you are a Master potter, frame maker or painter, it's just not going to turn out so great. And me, when I try to fix something I want it fixed quickly. Just not enough patience and always want things fixed before they are ready.
It came to mind this week that a Masterpiece can't be a Masterpiece until we leave it in the hands of the Master. Of course I'm not talking about a sculpture or painting, although this would apply there as well. I'm talking about our Creator.
The Master. The Word tells us in Proverbs 139:13 that the Master, God, created every part of me. He put me together in my mother's womb. So who better to go to when we have a problem but the One who created us? Verse 15 says that when my bones were being formed, carefyully put together in my mother's womb, when I was growing there in secret, God knew that I was there. He had already allotted my days before they even began.
Wow. God not only knows me, but He knew me before I was even formed. In fact, He, the Master, put me together! And He even already knows how many days I will live. Psalm 139:1 and forward of that same chapter says "Lord, you have examined me and You know me. You know everything I do; from far away you understand all my thoughts." He knows if we are working or resting. He knows all our actions. He knows what we will say before we say it. He surrounds us on every side. He protects us with His power. There is no where we can go that He is not.
What a Master. He not only created us, He knows absolutely everything about us. Start to finish and everything in between. He knows when we are going to fail Him too. And it hurts Him. But He is not just any Master. While not everyone surrenders to the Master, He still knows all. There is absolutely no sin that can be hidden from Him. Adam and Eve tried. It didn't work back then and it won't work now.
But our Master. He forgives. There is not a sin He won't forgive. There is not a hurt He won't heal. There is not a broken thing, created by Him, that He won't repair. Is your life broken? He created it. He would like to fix it. But the Master can't make a Masterpiece until we leave all the pieces in His Hands. Every piece. Just give it all to the Master. He will restore like no other. May not be in a flash but it could be. And it could take years. But He can't start until you give it all to Him. Every piece. Won't you give it all to Him today?
Did you ever try to fix a broken piece of pottery, a picture frame or even touch up a painting that had faded? Didn't work very well did it? Cracks show and paint doesn't match. Unless you are a Master potter, frame maker or painter, it's just not going to turn out so great. And me, when I try to fix something I want it fixed quickly. Just not enough patience and always want things fixed before they are ready.
It came to mind this week that a Masterpiece can't be a Masterpiece until we leave it in the hands of the Master. Of course I'm not talking about a sculpture or painting, although this would apply there as well. I'm talking about our Creator.
The Master. The Word tells us in Proverbs 139:13 that the Master, God, created every part of me. He put me together in my mother's womb. So who better to go to when we have a problem but the One who created us? Verse 15 says that when my bones were being formed, carefyully put together in my mother's womb, when I was growing there in secret, God knew that I was there. He had already allotted my days before they even began.
Wow. God not only knows me, but He knew me before I was even formed. In fact, He, the Master, put me together! And He even already knows how many days I will live. Psalm 139:1 and forward of that same chapter says "Lord, you have examined me and You know me. You know everything I do; from far away you understand all my thoughts." He knows if we are working or resting. He knows all our actions. He knows what we will say before we say it. He surrounds us on every side. He protects us with His power. There is no where we can go that He is not.
What a Master. He not only created us, He knows absolutely everything about us. Start to finish and everything in between. He knows when we are going to fail Him too. And it hurts Him. But He is not just any Master. While not everyone surrenders to the Master, He still knows all. There is absolutely no sin that can be hidden from Him. Adam and Eve tried. It didn't work back then and it won't work now.
But our Master. He forgives. There is not a sin He won't forgive. There is not a hurt He won't heal. There is not a broken thing, created by Him, that He won't repair. Is your life broken? He created it. He would like to fix it. But the Master can't make a Masterpiece until we leave all the pieces in His Hands. Every piece. Just give it all to the Master. He will restore like no other. May not be in a flash but it could be. And it could take years. But He can't start until you give it all to Him. Every piece. Won't you give it all to Him today?
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