Thanks for March

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."-1 Thessalonians 5:18

Yesterday the kids were playing outside in the water when they suddenly ran inside and said there was a bee and they were going to stay inside. They wanted to go back out and play, but they were afraid. Then I heard Faith say, "Come on, Brady. Don't let that bee take away your joy!"

March is usually my favorite month, but not this year. This March has been a discouraging month for us, and we're really trying to not let it take away our joy. Brady didn't get into Brushy Creek, where Faith goes to school. We did all the right things to get him in, so it was surprising to get that news. They were really excited to be in school together and Faith would always talk about how she would get to wait with him to get picked up at the end of the day. She told him all about kindergarten and the teachers he might have. When we visited her, he would point out the kindergarten class rooms and playground, which Kasey always referred to as Brady's cage. Faith and Brady are so close. Now, he's going to go to a different school. I'm not sure how that will work, but I know it will.

The same time we were going through the school situation, an opportunity came up for Jason at work. The kind of opportunity for which we had been waiting for a long time. He was interviewed for an executive position at a different branch. We had to wait longer than we wanted to to find out if he got the job. It seemed like a great opportunity for our family, what we had already been waiting so long for. It was so close between him and another guy. The other guy got it. I received  the phone call from Jason while my parents were visiting. They didn't know any of this was going on. I only told one person, and Jason told a few others. The other guy had just moved to town because his wife got a job in Greenville. I'm happy that it worked out so well for them. There's another opportunity on the horizon, but it's a way off and it means more waiting.

We are disappointed that these things have not worked out, but thankful God knows what's best for us. We would have chosen differently and we would have been wrong. Dealing with the stress this past month has been extremely difficult. Sometimes God lets us look back and see what He was doing, and sometimes He just wants us to trust Him. Some of our circumstances are pleasant and some are not, but we are commanded to be thankful in ALL circumstances. I'm finding reasons to be thankful that Brady is going to a different school, that Jason didn't get the job and that we have more waiting to do.

The Gift of Missing Church

Last Sunday I had to miss church again because of the baby. He made it through the song time, but that was as long as he could sit still. I was surprised he made it that long. I brought shoes to change into this week because last Sunday I spent the day walking around the hall ways of my church in four inch heels. I took him out on the play ground. It was the most beautiful morning. I enjoyed watching him try to play like a big kid, climbing and falling and getting dirt on his hands and clothes. He loved it. It was so quiet and beautiful. He was content until he saw the ushers walking in the parking lot, then he thought that looked like much more fun, and the playground could keep him contained no longer. I took him home, opened all the windows and listened to the radio while I cleaned up the house. My parents were visiting, so I was a little behind on the housework. I put him in his high chair and played with him while I was getting lunch started. That's when I realized I was really enjoying this special morning that God had given me. Instead of being frustrated with the baby for making me miss church again and feeling guilty for not being in the service, I was thankful for the gift He had given me.

"There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God,"  - Ecclesiastes 2:24

You Did It To Me

"The best index to a person's character is (a) how he treats people who can't do him any good, and (b) how he treats people who can't fight back."

I work about nine hours a week taking care of children in the nursery at the Y. I love my job because it gives me opportunities to serve others. Matthew 25:40 says, "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." Some of the children I've cared for have had parents going through a separation. I remember one who was diagnosed with cancer, another who had heart surgery, some who were autistic, one who was blind. Some were foster children who had come from abusive homes. Some just need us to love and care for them so their mom's can have a break and be refreshed. I can definitely relate to that. It's a privilege to take care of these little ones. I am there to serve them and love them. Sometimes when I'm at work I get frustrated when my own children need, well, extra attention. As if, they were taking me away from my ministry. I forget that they are my ministry too. I've been having a hard time with my three year old lately and my husband worked late tonight. I took my kids to the nursery and it was such a blessing for me to see them being well taken care of. As I ran around the track, I could see the workers happily playing on the playground with them. The night always seems to go better when I can get a little break. Knowing my kids are loved there makes it even better.

I've been trying to figure out a charity that my family can get involved in, slowly at first, but more involved as we all get older. I think sometimes I hide from the needs around me because it can be painful to see. I want my family to see how other people live, learn compassion, love for others and appreciation for all that we have.

 ^"For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,  I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’  And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me."  Matthew 25:35-40

Casting Crowns Concert

My husband and I went to a Casting Crowns concert last week. I bought the tickets a while ago. At first, I was unsure if I wanted to spend the money and worried we would be too much out of our element. Would we be the only ones not raising our hands. What if it was too loud. What if we didn't enjoy it as much as we thought we would. What if we got sick and couldn't go? But, would we regret missing out on the experience. Would it be a tremendous blessing. Would it be really fun and something we would enjoy doing together. I decided it was worth the risk and committed to going.  I was actually really thankful that we were all sick in January, because I knew it would be unlikely that we would be sick again in March. I was excited at first and became more unsure as it got closer. I didn't tell my family. I knew it would either bother them or they wouldn't care.

We had such a good time and will definitely do it again. Our seats were six rows from the stage right on the middle aisle. I was concerned I wouldn't be able to see but that was not a problem. I can't wait until the kids are old enough to go with us. The Gospel was presented in the challenges as well as in the music and it was entertaining. They looked joyful when they sang. Have you ever noticed how some people look so sad when they sing in church? It was actually not as emotional as I expected it to be. Just a lot of people worshiping God together who weren't ashamed to show feeling and excitement for Him.  I've had more emotional experiences at camp than I did at the concert.

A few days after the concert we got a message from a friend who was saddened by our new attitude towards music. He challenged us to make our music decisions based on good theology and said "The problem with "CCM" and other popular religious movements is not that there is an absence of a gospel message, but rather does that message truly line up with the God of the Bible and His Gospel message." I appreciate friends who keep us on track and challenge us to give an answer for what we believe and the decisions we make." I can answer him with confidence that we did make our decision based on good theology and we choose to listen to music that does line up with the God of the Bible and the Gospel message. We need to be discerning in the area of music as well as all areas of life.  If I decided that I would not listen to any CCM because some of it was lacking in depth I would be missing out on something God wanted me to enjoy. Here are the words of one of my favorite songs that I got to hear that night.

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt
Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart

Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You're

I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours, I am Yours

Who Am I, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love and watch me rise again
Who Am I, that the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me

I am Yours
Whom shall I fear
Whom shall I fear
'Cause I am Yours
I am Yours

 I'm thankful that I know what I believe about music and why. I'm blessed to be in a church where the preaching is based on the Bible rather than opinion and for godly people who help me sort through these things and encourage me in the right direction. Some think styles of music are worldly, but it's the philosophy behind the words that make it worldly. Worldliness is a philosophy that promotes worship of self rather than worship of God. The style of music is culture. Culture is not sinful. However, sometimes culture and worldliness overlap. We can easily see that in music. I use to worry about answering the questions my kids would someday ask. "If styles of music can be wrong, how do we know which ones to avoid? Why is okay for you to listen to rock music when you're working out, but no other time? Why can we dance and have fun with the music at the end of a movie, but no other time?" I don't have to worry about that any more. I had my kids clean their rooms and they wanted to listen to music. Faith put in one of her Patch the Pirate cd's and sang along. Brady turned on HIS Radio and cranked the volume as loud as he could stand it. We all like different things. I'm glad they can enjoy so many varieties of music.

Abundance For Every Good Deed

"We are not blessed so we can have, we are blessed so we can give."- Mark Hall
  
Deuteronomy 16:17
Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you.

A couple of months ago our Sunday school teacher asked our class the question, "Why don't Christians give more?" There were the expected church responses of good stewardship and taking care of our families first. I really wanted to raise my hand and say, "I don't give more because I'm selfish and I like my stuff." I think that's the honest reason why I don't give more.

I know it's okay to be wealthy and God gives us all things to enjoy, but what keeps us from selling much of what we don't use, living in smaller houses, giving to the poor and needy and furthering mission work? Do you think when Christians have fancy houses and dress well, unsaved people think they have a double standard? Do you think we focus too much on the being a good steward verses and the taking care of our families verses while we try not to look too closely at the story of the widow who gave all she had or the ones who were so poor they had to sell their possessions just so they could have money to give, and what about the people that gave as though they were rich? Am I living according to the Gospel or am I making the Gospel fit my life so I can be comfortable? These are some of the questions I've been asking myself. I don't have the answers.

I decided to challenge myself to give away the things I don't need or use instead of selling them. There's certainly nothing wrong with selling things to make a little extra money. I just wanted to challenge myself in this way. I'm finding it harder than I thought it would be, though I'm still enjoying it. Sometimes it can be difficult to give knowing that you will get nothing in return. I'm working on a bigger project to be able to give more in the future. I also have some specific giving projects on my bucket list that I'm really looking forward to.

Are we excited about giving? Are we working on ways to give more. Are we looking for opportunities?

2 Corinthians 9:6-8
Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.

I like what he says about having an abundance for every good deed. We should think up some good deeds and pray expecting God to provide. Maybe He already has and we just can't let go.

(Please post your favorite giving verses in the comments section on my blog so future readers can enjoy them and be encouraged and inspired).

My Wednesday Lunch Date

I've been trying to eat lunch at school with my second grade daughter more often. When she was in kindergarten and first grade I had lunch with her three or four times a year.  My goal was to do it twice a month, but it's been every week. Every Wednesday after work. It works out perfectly. I get out at 11:30 and she starts lunch at 11:30. The school is about a half mile from where I work. We usually have about 15 minutes together, but it's enough. Enough to see her smile when I walk into the cafeteria with the other three kids, enough to listen to her talk and enough for me to say "hi" to her friends and get to know them better. I wish I would have made that more of a priority two years ago when she started going to school. I told myself it was too much trouble to take all the kids to school during nap time. I read a book a while ago called "Going Public". It's an excellent book about parenting and having kids in a public school. I recommend it to anyone with kids regardless of where they attend. The main point of the book is how parents should be as involved as they can in their child's school life, by getting to know their friends, teachers, spending time in the class room, volunteering, etc. The thing that really hit me was that the couple writing the book had eight kids! I was using the "I have a lot of kids it's too much trouble excuse" with four. She asked me all the time to have lunch with her, and I would always tell her it's too hard with the kids. She understood. I went to public school when I was in second grade. I'm still friends with my best friend from that year. I remember the boy I liked and the group of kids I played with. Chances are she will too. Do I want her to have memories of her mom not wanting to take the trouble to eat lunch with her at school or do I want her to have memories of her mom, brothers and sister going out of their way to spend a few minutes with someone they love. I told my husband I was going to try to have lunch with her on Wednesdays. She overheard me and now expects it. She's the one keeping me accountable. I spend about fifteen minutes one day a week with her at school, and even though we really don't talk about anything important and sometimes the baby screams and gets everyone's attention, I can tell she's happy we're there and proud to show me her friends and classroom. How could I have been so selfish...

I Must Have It

 "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs." 1 Timothy 6:10

I've been thinking about something my pastor said in his sermon last night. He said if we see something we want and just have to have it, we love money. I always thought of loving money as a couple that worked full time and had their kids in day care so they could maintain a certain standard of living, or perhaps someone who saved every cent they had so someday they could have a beautiful, impressive house, and it certainly is those things, but it's also when we see something that we really want and think we can't live without it. That's the point he was making. When we adjust our budget or take on extra work just so we can obtain another possession, we love money. When we go into debt over wants or buy a house we really can't afford, we love money. I think God wants us to enjoy money, but I don't think He wants us to depend on it for joy. Now when I see something that I must have, I think again. Does this desired object have too much importance to me?

"Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment," 1 Timothy 6:6