Inspirations from the Back of the Fridge

Cleaning stuff out can really give you a picture of yourself, if you are willing to look.  That's how I've been feeling this past few weeks.  I've been somewhat busy cleaning things out - the fridge, the garage, my craft supplies, Sunday school material, school books, playroom, closets  Only a few things are done completely, the fridge and the garage, to be exact! Everything else is in process - a process that seems to get slower and slower as the days go by!

It's funny how I started out ready to get the jobs done.  Be harsh!  If unsure, toss it or give it away!  Now, I am looking at things, thinking about things, feeling attached to my stuff again. As I write this, I find myself saying, 'Why?'  I could put most of my stuff in boxes and never see it again, and not miss it one bit!  But, as soon as I see it now, I want it! I can't throw that away, and nobody else would want it, so I must keep it!  Anybody feel my pain?  (NOT for you to answer, hubby!)

Anyway, back to my original thought. A few weeks ago I was cleaning out the fridge, and I said that I felt a blog coming on! As I developed my thoughts, a friend of mine (Hi, Sue!) gave me some great thoughts of hers, which I will share, as well.

The fridge..............I love my fridge.  It's much smaller than my American fridge. This thing of mine is shorter than me! The bottom half is the freezer, and the top is the fridge.  I love it because it is easy to keep clean.  Less room means less food and less stuff to get lost in the back. Yet, as I clean it out, I still find that some good stuff has been pushed to the back and forgotten. Forgotten for what?  The necessities, I'd say - milk, butter, juice, cheese, ketchup (YES! That is a necessity in my house since that is one of my kids' 5 a day!).

Unfortunately, necessities can sometimes block us from seeing the good stuff.  As I cleaned the fridge out, I found the stuff I really wanted pushed to the back and the stuff I thought I wanted but really didn't crowding the good stuff out!  Somehow that is just like my life.  So many times I have a plan, a list of priorities, things I want to do with my kids, and things that I should do for my mental and spiritual well-being.   But soon, I find my time and thoughts are filled up with other stuff.  Stuff that seems important at the time, but yields little fruit in my life, at least not fruit I want to keep!

My friend said that refrigerators themselves remind her of white-washed tombs.  They are all shiny and clean on the outside but cold, dead, and literally frozen in some parts on the inside.  And the light!  Think about that light!  You know, the light you see when you open the door.  As I gaze into my fridge it seems like that light has always been on, but actually is it always OFF!  It only comes on when it's being examined!  Oh, how I hope my light is not only on when I am being examined!

So, as I clean out my stuff, I will clean out the junk in my heart and mind, as well.  I believe as I put things right inside myself, it will be easier to let go of the things of this world, and get back to what is really important: my God, my Family, my Light. The Catholics have a saying, "Cleanliness is close to godliness."  In many ways, I'd say that is true. (That's for another day!)  But I'm more interested in what God has to say, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father, which is in heaven."  Matthew 5:16  For my light to shine bright, I must get the junk out of the way!  It's time to get busy!

Birthday Blast

Another busy week, but this time full of celebration and fun!  This past week has been the annual celebration of my children's birthdays.  My youngest, Dakota (born March 15, 2005, at 4:30pm, weighing 5lbs 5oz) just celebrated his 5th birthday.  We had a wonderful day of celebration: pancakes for breakfast (Dak's favourite), made gluten free cup cakes (that was an experience) for nursery, and then, the highlight of the day, a party at McDonald's.  That was the best for both of us.  Dak's friends, a semi-sound proof room, fun food, and someone else to run the games and clean up the mess!  I got to enjoy the smiles and laughter, and the other moms, while the kids had a great time partying.  I highly recommend it!  All of a sudden, my new 5 year old seems taller, speakers clearer, and acts, well, older.  My little man is growing up.

My oldest son, Damian Jr (born March 21, 1997, at 12:21am, weighing 8lbs 10oz.) turned 13 yesterday.  Damian was blessed with a Sunday birthday and celebrations that lasted all weekend long:  birthday cake at Friday teen night, paintball and party with friends on Saturday, and Sunday, THE DAY, great weather, more good cake, and a successful football match.  I got exhaustion, which rightly reminded me of his wonderful entry into this world! I am now the mother of a teenager again, and I think it's going to be fun!

Today, is the climax of birthdays for me, for today is my oldest child's birthday.  Dana Joyce, my only daughter, was born on March 22, 1988, at 6:58am, weighing 8lbs 3oz.  I was 20 years old.  That day changed my life forever.  I discovered unconditional love, a purpose in life, someone more important to me than me. Life was hard. Life was full. Life was good. Dana's birth, life, saved me from myself, saved me when I didn't know I needed saving.  What could have been a devastating event in my life became the turning point I needed to send me in the right direction.

You see, raising Dana reminded me of how I was raised - in church. After Dana was born, I had her dedicated in my brother's Christian church.  I attended off and on, but as Dana got older, I started to realize that Dana needed more than just an occasional religion, and so did I.  By the time Dana was 4, we were regularly attending church.  I didn't surrender to the Lord, allowing Him to ultimately save me, for several years, but this was the begin of the path that has lead me to who I am today.  I am so thankful that God can take our 'mistakes' and turn them into victories for Him and us!

Happy birthday, my precious children: Dana, Damian, and Dakota. March is a good month for us!

The Student Has Become the Teacher

We went to Manchester last Sunday to visit a couple of churches that had invited my husband to preach.  Unsure of what our meals would be like during the day, I told my boys that we may have McDonald's later.  After two meetings and various food offerings between services, we headed back on our two hour drive home. We weren't on the road long before my boys were hungry for a real meal, so we stopped at a service area for some grub.  There was a Burger King there, which is quite a treat, since we do not have a Burger King anywhere near our house.  The boys happily ate their burgers and fries as we got back on the road. Unfortunately, it wasn't long before we passed a McDonald's.  Upon seeing this, my little man says, "Hey, we didn't go to McDonald's yet."  I casually reminded him that we had Burger King instead, and they are just alike. With great enthusiasm and clear pronunciation, my near five year old says, Burger King is NOT like McDonalds........it's called Burr-Grrrr  KinnG!

Mourning Joy

You may think I've made a spelling error in that title. However, this oxymoron is exactly what is on my mind today. The second Beatitude is: "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted."  The many times I have read this verse, I have often thought this type of mourning was over loss, death, a deep sadness of something that has happened. These experiences do bring mourning, and God is the ultimate source of comfort.  So, it makes sense (human sense) that that is what Jesus is speaking of.  However, upon further examination of the scriptures, I have again been reminded that God is revealing so much more than our shallow analysis/interpretation of His Word.

As I teach my children, I occasionally get to see that look of understanding. You know that look, that feeling when the light bulb comes on?  I love that feeling!  Not just to see it in my children, but to experience it myself.  To truly understand something for the first time, profound or not, is such a joy to me!  As I have delved into this blessed statement, the light bulb has come on.

As I began my study of the second Beatitude, I was a bit surprised to find myself reading one of my favourite stories in the Bible:  Luke 7:36-50.  As you read it, you will find that this is the story of the (sinful) woman who came to Jesus, weeping and washing His feet with her tears.  The religious crowd questioned (in there thoughts alone!) this woman's actions, and even more so, Jesus allowing this.  Of course, everyone loves the part where Jesus puts those hypocritical Pharisees in there place.  To our shame, we fail to see that we have become the Pharisees.

As I talked this through with the ladies in my Monday night Bible study, it became clear to us how we have become inoculated to the effect of our sin. We know we shouldn't lie, be unkind, say inappropriate things. Yet, it has gotten so easy to tell that half truth, ignore the less-fortunate, laugh at things of this world. One of my ladies said through watery eyes, I want my heart to break over the things that break God's heart. That is true mourning!  Not mourning over the sad things that happen to us (not that we shouldn't mourn over the losses and hurts in our life), but this type of mourning is weeping over the hurt we cause the holy and just God of the universe.  Our sin, the choices we make that are in rebellion against our Creator and should-be God, that is what we should really be mourning over. This is not a one time event, but a continual awareness of what sin is, when we do it, and what to do about it.  Oh, that I would not grow comfortable with that which separates me from my God!

Even more wonderful to me was to see, for the first time, that the order of the Beatitudes is exactly that! Jesus spoke these blessed statements in a specific order.  They build upon one another to give a picture, just like everything else God does!  For you cannot truly mourn your sin until you are truly poor in spirit.  II Corinthians 7:10 says,  "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death."

Again, my children have helped me understand these two types of sorrow. Have you even heard a kid say 'I'm sorry', but in their mind you knew they also said 'only because I have to be!'  That is worldly sorrow: to only be sorry because you got caught.  Godly sorrow, however, comes from God, from seeing things from God's perspective.  Once we have seen ourselves from God's perspective (to be poor in spirit) we are finally free to mourn over that sin which breaks the heart of God.

Then mourning joy become a reality.  For the truth is that the blessedness doesn't come in the mourning, but as a result of the mourning!  Once we are poor in spirit, we WILL mourn over sin (our sin, the church's sin, the sin of the world), and from that mourning, God will give comfort! What better comfort is there than to know you are forgiven!  I John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness."  Then the God of all comfort will wrap His arms around a sorrowful soul, and give the peace that passeth all understanding.  Praise the Lord!

How wonderful to know that God knows what we really need, and if we will humble ourselves, He will do it! Now my desire is for these blessed beatitudes to be a reality in my life.  May we each experience real JOY and peace today as we humble ourselves before our Mighty and Loving God.

Meet the Pioneer Woman and the Apple Cider Mill

Hi, dear friends.  My, how I've missed you!  This past week has been a whirlwind, every day greeting me with a different pile of stuff.  Of course, making all my appointments for the same week was not the best idea. But, now that my hair is done, my eyes have been check (with still no way to clear up this blurry vision!), tutoring completed, date night sadly over, church cleaned and decorated for our ladies tea, ladies tea over, church cleaned again, and a long day trip to Manchester, (not to mention the other things I had to do to get all the above accomplished), I finally feel like I can breathe again.

It's not like I haven't had busy weeks before, but somehow, last week seemed busier, more chaotic, and in the end, not as rewarding. Sometimes, I look back and feel like I've just been doing stuff.  Last week was one of those weeks.  I can't believe I'm about to say this, but I actually missed my house-bound days of doing lessons, cleaning the kitchen ten times a day, and hanging out with my kids and hubby.  It doesn't sound like much, but those are really my most productive days!

This morning has been particularly lazy for me, and I feel no shame in that!  I've played all six of my Lexulous games on Facebook (so, if I'm playing you, go make your move!), had a chat with a friend (Hi, Jane!) and even did my Bible study this morning (which is an accomplishment, since lately, I've been doing it whenever).  So, even in this lazy state I find myself in, I feel like I have been productive.

After feeling satisfied that life was levelling off, I decided it was time to write.  But, before I could write, I needed to read.  So, I took a look at a couple of blogs that I like to follow and have now decided to share them with you.

One is the Apple Cider Mill.  If you have checked out this blog, you might find it strange that I follow it, seeing how the young woman who writes it is a devout Catholic.  Of course, I don't agree with everything I read, however, I have found that I can learn something from this precious one who's sole desire is to care for her family and home to the best of her ability.  Lately, she has been doing a lot of writing on spring cleaning (see older posts - March 2).  After I got past my own feelings of laziness and shame, I realized it was time to get busy taking care of my home a little better.  If you have the courage, I challenge you to take a look at this valuable blog for some inspiration and direction.  I've definitely been inspired and my family will be blessed for it.

Another blog I love is the Pioneer Woman.  I am sure that with one look you will be hooked, too!  City slicker gone pioneer wife.......good stuff! She calls her home schooled kids punks and her hubby is definiitely the Marlboro Man!  Ree is always good for a laugh, a great recipe, and some clarity of thought when my mind is bogged down by the clutter of my own thoughts.  I hope you find a few minutes to check it out and enjoy a laugh.

As for me, I'm off to teach my kids something and hopefully, learn something myself!

Out of the Mouths of Babes

This morning, my little man greeted me with the words, "It snowed again!" I went to the window to see what he was talking about and found that the roofs were covered with frost.  I then proceed to tell my excited son that it wasn't snow but indeed another cold, glistening covering on the earth. Quite indignantly, he tells me it is NOT frost.  It is white on the houses and the grass, so it has to be snow. This determined child of mine would not accept my explanation. Finally, I explained to him the only fact that really mattered at that moment.....I am the adult who knows things, you are the child that needs to listen and learn! Of course, I used a few more words with a bit more patience, but you get the point! He did too, although, he still wasn't very impressed!

This conversation brought me back to the first Beatitude...poverty of spirit. What a peculiar statement that is to me, to be poor in spirit. I've heard different explanations of this phrase over the years, but my current study has really made me focus and think. You see, Jesus says, "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs in the kingdom of heaven." Jesus is quite literally speaking of our way into heaven! This 'poor in spirit' is not something we can do, it is something we must be. Oh, the joy and satisfaction once understanding and acceptance meet!

You see, the natural man does not possess or demonstrate any poverty of spirit!  We are quite full of spirit!  Our own spirit. Demanding our own way. Pushing our way through to what we want. Complaining when things don't go our way. Pointing our finger at God in mockery without shame. This natural state of man is so easy to see. If you've spent any amount of time with children, you know what I mean.  You do not have to teach a child to do wrong. It comes naturally. Children have to be taught to respect authority, to surrender their will and obey.

I hate to admit it, but this reminds me of something else.  My husband and boys love to wrestle, and the fun is never over until somebody gets hurt. Of course, as a mother, it drives me crazy! My boys always go back for more, hoping to best their dad, but you see, Dad will not be beat.  As a matter of fact, their father is sure to pin then down until they 'cry uncle.' He will not accept 'the cry' unless he is certain it is sincere. (HUSBAND: As proof-reader, I simply would like to say their surrender must be sincere, not their cry.) My boys must completely give up, humble themselves, admitting complete defeat to their 'mighty father', before dad will let them go. Once they get to that point, I'd say they are demonstrating poverty of spirit: the will to fight or resist is now gone because they realize dad is 'the man!'

The same is true for us. Poverty of spirit can only come once we realize who God is. One glimpse of God in all His glory and majesty will cause us to see who we are, or should I say, who we are not! To finally and completely bend our will and way to the Lord, that is poverty of spirit. Only then will you truly surrender to THE Almighty Father, receiving His divine spirit, salvation, and eternal life......in Heaven!  Hallelujah!
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.