The Passing of Time

Everyone says that time goes by quickly. And it does. It doesn’t feel like it goes by quickly when you’re a child because I don’t think you have anything to look back on – to gage the passing of time. But when you’re an adult, the constant changes in your children as they grow show you each day how quickly time is passing by. 
 
I hate how adults complain about getting old. I feel so young still! And when others complain, it just makes me feel old and I feel like they have robbed me of my vitality in sharing those aging feelings with me! 

I, instead, choose to embrace life as much as I can. I truly believe that if you feel young it will help you stay young and active longer as opposed to feeling old and letting your body start to waste away as you abstain from so much of life.
 
I don’t know why we fight “aging” so much. Yes, we’d all prefer to look and feel youthful and be at our most attractive age for the rest of our life. But there would be a trade-in if that happened. We’d have to trade in so many of the internal lessons we’d learned as a result of aging. We’d never learn the value in respecting those older, wiser, and more mature than us and we’d certainly lose a sense of compassion for the body that doesn’t move as nimbly as it used to.
 
My grandpa once told me that it was a gift to be able to grow old because many never get that chance. I have never forgotten that quote. I carry it with me through each birthday and passing of the years in my life. I remember that to see my children get older is bittersweet, but that it’s exactly what I’ve asked God for. I’ve asked Him to be healthy, and safe so that I can be a mama who is around to mold and teach them, and watch them grow up. I’ve asked Him to let me be around so that I can help impact their lives and hopefully help the Word and love of the Lord take root in their hearts and souls.
 
Time does pass. Nothing we do will ever change that. Except maybe our attitudes. That’s the only way we win. And I want to win. I want to be a classy middle-aged woman, and a darling, wise older woman that the younger women come to for advice and support. As long as I’m alive, my life must be worth living and I don’t want to waste it.

~ Dionna Sanchez (http://beautyinthestorm.blogspot.com)

Emmau-Whatz-Iz?

Have you ever wondered about the two guys on the Road to Emmaus in Luke 24? How could they be so close to Jesus and miss Resurrection Sunday?  I mean, this is “later that same day” – as in, the women went to the tomb” early this morning” (verse 22).  But here comes the doleful duo, faces so long they could eat corn out of a Coke bottle.  They’re looking at the afterglow of the Mightiest Moment in History and seeing the headlight of an oncoming train.

You know the story.  Neck-deep in their discussion “about everything that had happened,” who shows up?  The text doesn’t say where He came from, but Jesus “came up and walked along with them” (verse 15).  What did he say?

“Shalom, fellas.  Howzitgoin?” Or maybe, “You look like someone just offered you a pork dinner with a bacon chaser.”  How ‘bout, “Mind if I join you?  I’m due at the Ascension in a coupla days.”  Whatever the initial greeting, Jesus asks, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”  Lowder translation:  What’s up, guys?”

Jaw unhinged in astonishment, Cleopas answers.  Jesus’ arrest, crucifixion and purported Resurrection from the dead were all over Jerusalem.  Emmaus was probably about seven miles northwest of Jerusalem.  Not exactly an ocean away.  These two men couldn’t believe that anyone in the area didn’t know about it!  (After all, the crucifixion, Jesus’ death and burial were all in the last chapter.  See Luke 23.)

But neither of these men recognizes Jesus. Where has this guy been?  “Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?” (verse 17)

Well yes, Jesus could have answered, now that you mention it, I am “only a visitor” to Jerusalem.  I stopped there en route to paying the sin penalty for all mankind.

But Jesus doesn’t say that.  What He doesn’t say is significant.  He doesn’t lecture, nag, or chide.  He doesn’t wave a red flag or dispatch a bolt out of the blue.  Jesus doesn’t even declare, “Fellas, it’s me!”  He simply asks, “What things?”  (verse 19)

The reply is interesting: “About Jesus of Nazareth.  He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people…”

Curious verb choice, isn’t it?  Was.  Not is.  Past tense.  After all, these men had hoped that Jesus would redeem Israel, deliver her from under the heavy boot of Rome.  But now it’s too late.  Jesus is dead.  Buried in that borrowed crypt.  Sure, some women claimed they’d been to Jesus’ tomb and found it empty, but they were clearly a cup and a saucer short of a place setting.

What was Jesus thinking?  Did he smile?  Suppress a grin?  Nope.  He proclaims this teary twosome “foolish” and “slow of heart to believe.” (verse 25)  Then he gives them a refresher course in Moses and the Prophets 101.

Incredibly, they still don’t get it.  (Ah, the benefit of 2000/2000 hindsight!)  As the trio approaches a village, Jesus acts as if he’s going further.  They urge him to stay the night with them, which he does.  Can you imagine their faces at the table later when Jesus takes the bread, gives thanks, breaks it and gives it to them?

“Hmmmm… this seems a little familiar….Haven’t we seen something like this before… Do you remember that afternoon in Bethsaida, with the loaves and the fishes….?  Remember when Je….. Hey!!!!!”

Do you recognize the risen Lord?  Have you left the “big city” and set out for Emmaus?  Keep walking.  Keep looking.  Remember you’re only a visitor on this earthly sod, and you never know whom you may meet on the journey.  Somewhere up ahead you’ll recline at a table.  Bread will be broken and served by nail-scarred hands.  Soon, perhaps in the twinkling of an eye, the dust of the day and the weariness of the walk will fall away and you’ll be a visitor no more.  You’ll be Home.

By Kristine, author, blogger, humorist, homeschooler, professional mom.

Planting Seeds of Character

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
John 5:15

Webster defines character as: moral or ethical quality; good repute; qualities of honesty, courage, or the like; integrity.

I define it as ‘what you do when no one is looking.’

Every night, when I pray with the boys before they go to sleep, I ask Jesus to help them to do the right thing, even when no one is looking. I want Carson and Chase to be men of good character.

And those seeds have to start taking root, today. They have to be boys of good character and then teens of good character to grow into men of good character. It won’t happen overnight. And they won’t just wake up one day, when they are 30 years old and be moral men.

And it won’t happen on their own. They need God’s guidance, and our constant nurturing.

Bobby has started a garden. He’s turned part of our back deck into his own little flowering domain. He has herbs and vegetables and fruits growing. He even spent the day screening in his section of the deck, so Zeke can’t get into his plants and eat them.

Bobby is spending a lot of time with those seeds. He’s watering them and he’s protecting them and eventually, they will produce good fruit. But it will take effort and care.

Just like our little boys. What we put into them today – will produce a fruit later on. And with God’s help, those little guys will be strong trees of good repute!

Father, you give us so many examples in our daily life, to learn how to walk in your ways. Thank you for the lessons … always the lessons. And Jesus, thank you for blessing me with a family that I love so very much. And nope, we’re most certainly NOT perfect, but you love us anyway. Lord, thank you for the good seeds that are growing inside of Carson and Chase. Nurture them Lord and let them produce a harvest for you!

I Love You Jesus.
In Your Name I Pray,
Amen

God Bless You!

Love,
Joyce

My Life In 30 Seconds!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pY6cDRzpzPs

Love is Hard

Love is patient, love is kind.
It is not jealous, it is not pompous,
It is not inflated, it is not rude,
it does not seek its own interests,
it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury,
it does not rejoice over wrongdoing
but rejoices with the truth.
It bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

In the second reading for this weekend, St. Paul offers a beautiful description of all that love should be. This teaching is appropriate for all kinds of love – love between family members, love between friends, and love between spouses. It offers a blueprint of how to live in harmony with those important to us. The love described in this scripture passage is the ideal, yet it stands in stark contrast to the image of love that popular culture presents, especially for married couples.

It smacked of irony that the same day I heard this reading, I heard of two young couples who are considering divorce. They both have been married less than three years, and one couple has a small child. Marriage isn’t what they expected. They just aren’t in love with each other anymore.

I’m not close to these couples and I know that the only people who knows what goes on in a marriage are the two people involved. There are certainly reasons why some couples shouldn’t be married, terrible things that no one should have to endure. There are also some people who were not able to make that marriage commitment in the first place for whatever reason. My intention is not to condemn anyone.

Nevertheless, I hear more and more people using the reason “we’re not in love anymore” as a reason for divorce. It makes me wonder what these people think that love is supposed to be. Is their idea of love St. Paul’s description or the world’s idea that love is fireworks and romance?

Anyone who has been married for a while knows that marriage is not all wine and roses. Two imperfect people joined in holy matrimony create an imperfect union. Romance often gets lost in the work of day to day living. Marriages have ups and downs and those downs can last for years. Rough spots can be trying to the soul and to the relationship. There are going to be times when the thought of being married to the same person for the next however many years is simply too much to bear. There will be times when walking away seems like the only reasonable solution.

The best advice I ever got when I was getting married came from a coworker. She had been married for eleven years at the time. She told me, “I can stay married, if only for today.” I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I’ve repeated that advice to myself. That is what a good marriage is made of – one day at a time. It is getting up and choosing to live St. Paul’s version of love, even when the feeling is not there. It is choosing to be patient and kind and putting the other person first. It is praying for the strength to keep going. I wish that more people spoke that truth to young couples who are getting married.

Love is all those wonderful things that St. Paul talks about. Love, true love, is also hard. It takes a strong commitment and a willingness to get through the difficult times one day at a time. Then we can live the true vision of love that God wants for us.

by Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur
http://spiritualwomanthoughts.blogspot.com

The Grass is Always Greener

When my life is really hectic and busy, I long for quieter days where I can putz and roam at “will.” I dream of a day where I can delve into a project or have everything around the house caught up on, so that I can read for hours with my children or play game after game with them without worrying about the time.
 
But then when those slow days seem to come, it seems like I look around me and feel like everyone is doing something exciting in their life but me. I tend to feel like maybe I’m boring or maybe I should look into a new opportunity or activity in my life.
 
Have you ever felt that way? We tend to always want what we don’t have. Have you ever stopped to wonder why that is?
 
I think it’s because we don’t know how to be content with what we have and where God has placed us in our lives. We take our eyes off of the road He has placed us on, and we look at someone else’s road. We fail to take into consideration that that someone could be looking at our road and wishing for our set of circumstances as well!  We just carry this mentality with us of thinking that we need to be doing (or not doing) what the rest of the world is doing!
 
We trip ourselves up a lot with this way of thinking. I know there have been many times where I have wallowed in a little bit of self pity only to remember later on that I had asked for that certain situation or set of circumstances to come up! And when it did, I was only ungrateful.
 
The grass is always going to look greener on the other side of that fence if we continue to look at what everyone else has instead of looking at how much we have to be thankful for. When times are busy, we can be thankful for friends who invite us to activities, or healthy children who are well enough to participate in sports. And when they are slower, we can be thankful for those times to recharge, catch up around our homes, and spend extra time loving on each other.
 
I think it’s all in how we look at it.

~ Dionna Sanchez (http://www.EmphasisOnMoms.com)

Adoption 101: Who Picks Who?

Have you ever asked yourself these questions:

• Do I pick adoption or does adoption pick me?
• How do I know if I’m really called to adopt?
• Is adoption right for me?
• Will I have an “Ah ha” moment?

Well, how do you know if you should adopt? You might be feeling in your heart to adopt, but your head is thinking, “God, adoption? Do you know how many details I would have to work on?” I have been asked many times how does this big ‘”Ah-ha” happen… the exact moment when you knew adoption was the right thing for you to do?  Every adoption story is different and personal and unique.  We all have expectations for how we think life will play out, and we all hope those plans will become realities.  But, what happens when God calls us to do something crazy out of the ordinary?  What do we do when the “ah ha” is too big and too scary and too risky?

Adoption is not for everyone, I understand that we all have different callings, gifts, talents and passions.  James 1:27 “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.”  We are all called to do something, to take care of orphans…whether it’s sponsoring a child, missions, foster care, financial, or adoption.  This is my adoption story, the one God wrote for Roger and I… a story we had no idea how it would play out or end.

It’s difficult for me to look back in time at my own personal journey to adopt Zoie, but if my story can help encourage or point you in the right direction, it’s worth it to me.  In 1999, my heart was finally healing over the loss of our son and the craziness of having a 26 week old micro-preemie, who was now a healthy three year old.  I loved being a mommy and desired to expand our family through adoption.  My biggest hurdle was convincing Roger that we should adopt.  It seemed like such an easy question, but it had taken me a long time to find the courage to ask.  I had no idea how he would respond.  I will never forget the day I asked my hubby, “Do you want to adopt?”  In 0.2 seconds, Roger said, “Nope.” Okay, perhaps he did not hear understand what I was referring to, so I asked the same question in a different way. This time I knew he heard, because his reply was even more accelerated this time, “No, I’m sorry, but adoption is just not for me!”  I asked if he would pray about it and he said he would, but I think he said that just to put an end to the conversation.  I never spoke to him about adoption again.  A simple question, turned into a dangerous surrender of my heart.

Three years later, my hubby out of the blue asked me a question that totally caught me off guard, “Do you still want to adopt?”  My mouth dropped, I was speechless.  I remember stuttering and laughing and choking out the words- “are you serious?”  I couldn’t believe that God had answered my prayers in such an extraordinary way, but it was three years later and so much had changed in my life.  My children were older and life was feeling easier and calmer and quieter- they were both in school.  I wasn’t so sure anymore if adoption was “our thing” so I told him lets give it some time and think about it.  How could it be possible that my heart wasn’t willing, and my reasons were so shallow.  I struggled constantly asking, “God, why are you bothering me with this?”  I had shared my desire to adopt several times during my “hiatus” with my mom, my best friend and others – they all said the same thing… are you crazy?!  Fear had settled into my heart.  Fear to not do something radical and unfamiliar.  I did not know a single person in my community that had adopted a child.  I knew adoptees, but I was clueless about the adoption process.  I believed that without the blessing from my hubby, family and friends I would never have the courage to adopt.  It was a case closed in fear.

It’s crazy I know, but God cracked opened the case files.  He urgently prompted Roger and I to move forward with adoption.  I know that sounds really strange, but I can only explain how it happened for us.   Our “Ah ha” moment came six years later after my original request.  Our breakthrough was an adorable, spunky nine year old who became our family ambassador.  She begged and prayed and pleaded and nagged and insisted we adopt a baby.  We came up with brilliant excuses, but our daughter, Hannah was relentless.  We loved being a mom and dad, wanted to expand our family, but how in the world were we going to know if we heard His voice and make the right decision for our family?  We started praying for clarification, neon signs flashing, anything to help us know what to do.  Our son pretty much thought we’d lost our marbles- even told us we were “whacked,” but we committed to prayer.  We prayed and prayed for two years, but still fear was our worst enemy.  We were scared to death and it made us feel paralyzed to make the final decision to adopt.  We finally had several friends who had adopted or were in the process of adopting, but we just couldn’t move forward.

What do you do when you are afraid?  Anxiety means, A state of uneasiness and apprehension, as about future uncertainties. Fear was flat out keeping us from doing the work God had planned in our lives.  We started hanging up verses all over the house.  Our favorite was Philippians 4:6-7 and we claimed that verse and spoke it out loud every chance we had.  There are too many crazy stories to tell you, but when we finally wrote out a check to an adoption agency, AWAA (awaa.org) and filled out the application to start our adoption to China, we were overcome with thrills, chills and slight nausea.  This was it… we knew there was no turning back.  We were surrendering our inconveniences, expectations, dreams, hopes and family to jump in faith and obey God’s voice.  We had to trust He had a plan for our lives that would lead us to a place of peace.

Do you get it?  Adoption picked us.  It picked us and it wrecked our lives for the better.  We are a part of something so much bigger and its not about us. We are crazy in love with our children, advocating for adoption, orphan ministry and encouraging other families to step into the world of adoption or foster care.  At first, we avoided God’s call and then surrendered to His plans.  He never let go of us and He will guide you, too. John 14:18 “No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.” He can and will provide for you-and for what He has called you to do.  He never leads us where he will not sustain us- The manna will come!

In an upcoming post, Adoption 101: Joy Opportunity Lost, we will discuss what happens when you are called to adopt and you miss the opportunity.  This is for the doubters, the stumblers, the procrastonators, the “I’m still thinkn about it”, the excuse makers, the runners and the “God, are you talking to me?”  Roger and I tried them all out for many years and I want to help eliminate the danger of you missing out on God-breathed adoption miracles.

I’d love to hear your “Ah ha” moments when adoption picked you.  Please share your breakthroughs in the comments with me.  You can contact me at www.mycrazyadoption.com

Kari Gibson

Great story of a mom who struggled with the term “just adopt“

Click button everyday 2 Vote- that’s it to make My Crazy Adoption #1 mommy blog.

A Crutch

Are you leaning on a crutch? Some turn to alcohol or drugs for support. Many feed their shrinking ego with eating disorders. We all feel feeble at times and reach out for extra support. Life problems knock us off balance; and we are in grave danger of falling! Have you ever heard it said that faith in God is only a crutch? Trust in Him is seen as a sign of weakness. Is that accurate? I freely confess that I lean on Jesus. He holds my hand and if I slip and fall He lifts me back on my feet.

My crutch is constructed from a cross. It offers great strength and security to all who receive the Lord. Christ died with arms extended in forgiveness and love. To those who reject Him, the cross is foolishness! “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18 NKJ).” I will never stand on my own two feet. I choose to rely on His cross as my constant crutch.

Chili and Chocolate Cake – Book Trailer

I made a little book trailer for my book, Chili and Chocolate cake.

http://www.alifedecision.org

What Faith Can Do

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1

I’ve had a song in my head the last couple of days, What Faith Can Do, by Kutless.  It has a catchy beat, which caught my attention, but the words are what make it so powerful.  This is the chorus:

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do.

I love the line … broken hearts become brand new.

Our heart is one of the most vital organs in our body.  When it stops, we stop.  Yes, all parts work together, but without the heart pumping blood, nothing else works.  We can even lose function of our brain, and our heart will keep pumping, but when the heart stops, we die. 

In Proverbs 4:23, God tells us, Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.  

I don’t think He’s talking about our physical heart here, but rather our spirit; who we are inside.   When our spirits are broken, it’s hard for us to function properly.  And once a heart / spirit  is broken, it’s hard to make it new again.  It just doesn’t work the same.  Or we don’t feel the same. 

I delivered a little stillborn baby seven years ago.  My heart was broken.  I really didn’t think I would ever be okay again.  But …

With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26)

When we have faith in God, dreams become realities, hope flows, miracles abound, and broken hearts do become brand new!

Thank you Jesus for healing my heart and my hurts and for giving me hope and a future.  Thank you for turning my dreams into reality.  Thank you for loving me Jesus, first.

I love you!
In Jesus Name I Pray,
Amen

God’s Blessings Upon You!

Love,
Joyce

The Choices You Make Today
Will Affect Your Tomorrow
http://www.alifedecision.org

Take Out the Trash

I know, I know.  It was a “prayer request.”  Passing along a prayer request can’t hurt, right?  WRONG!  Especially if “sharing prayer requests” means soaking smoldering kindling with the gasoline of gossip.

What is gossip?  Definitions vary, but the main idea is “spreading or repeating idle chatter or rumors about others.”  More bluntly, gossip is “sharing hurtful or damaging information about someone else to a party who’s neither part of the problem nor part of the solution.”  Motives for spreading “idle chatter” can range from revenge, frustration, a lack of good judgment and self-control, or simply not having anything better to do with one’s mouth.

Whatever the definition or motive, one thing’s sure as the next sunrise when it comes to gossip: it will kill a group or a friendship faster than a Sidewinder missile after a heat signature.  Gossip can consume relationships, Bible studies or churches like a lit match on flash paper.  “Idle chatter” is just as incendiary—and as destructive—as a burning trash dump.  Don’t think so?  Turn to the Book of Proverbs.

He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin. — Proverbs 13:3

A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip

separates close friends. — Proverbs 16:28

A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much.

– Proverbs 20:19

While you’re at it, take a gander at the topic in the New Testament, too, from the Book of James:

Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body,

but it makes great boasts.  Consider what a great forest

is set on fire by a small spark.

The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil

among the parts of the body.

It corrupts the whole persons,

sets the whole course of his life on fire,

and is itself set on fire by hell. (James 3:5, 6)

Did you catch that?  Loose lips cause ruin, dissension, separation, corruption, and betrayal.  They’re a “small spark” that can set off a forest fire!  James also says, All kinds of animals, … and creatures … are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue.  It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison (James 3:7,

Gossip is sin!  It’s also social and spiritual cyanide, a pernicious toxin that will poison friendships, sever relationships, and destroy lives.  In fact, listening to or passing along gossip is like receiving stolen goods—you’re just as guilty as the thief.  “De-tox” by:

• Identifying sources by name. If Ms. Gossip is determined to dump her load of verbal garbage in your ear, ask her for a specific source.  (Most of the time there isn’t one.)
• Looking for facts. Don’t accept hearsay.  Refuse to listen unless “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth” is being communicated and can be supported with facts.
• Asking, “Can I quote you on that?” It’s amazing how fast a “Lucy Loose Lips” will back pedal if you pose this one simple question.
• Saying, “I don’t appreciate hearing that.” This approach isn’t for the faint hearted.  It might drive a wedge between you and “Greta Gossiper,” but it’ll also bring the trash talk to a screeching halt.
• Be sure that anyone who gossips to you will also gossip about you.  So if you’re prone to “loose lips” or ticklish ears, STOP! (If you’ve burned others with gossip, invest in some “bandages” to help heal those wounds.  Start with a sincere apology!)
• Pray Psalm 141:3 regularly: Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.

Proverbs 26:20 says, “”Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.”  Refuse to add any fuel to the fire with “idle chatter.”  Take out the trash.  Douse gossip before it triggers a four-alarmer.

***

By Kristine Lowder, author, blogger, humorist, professional mom, homeschooler and chief wrangle at the ‘ole testosterone farm.