Summer Time!

It's almost summer vacation. Next week my elementary schooler has something fun every day, like picnics, parties and movie days, then she is out of school for the summer. The following week is filled with exams for my middle schooler but then she too will be done.

Summer will be filled with trips to the pool, swimming in the lake, visits to Busch Gardens, a beach vacation...and yes, some chores in between. I don't know, however, how much time will be spent blogging.

I'm definitely going to write from time to time, but I can't commit to a schedule. So, the best thing to do, is look over to the right where it says SUBSCRIBE VIA EMAIL, and then subscribe! Then every time I blog, you'll receive the post right in your email inbox! You don't have to worry about missing a thing.

I hope you'll consider it. Have a great summer!

God Bless the USA

I'm proud to be an American,
where at least I know I'm free.
And I won't forget the ones who died,
who gave their life for me.
God Bless the USA, Lee Greenwood, 1984

Yesterday was Memorial Day. This day is a day set aside to remember those who gave their lives for our country. This is a serious holiday for my husband, who is a Vietnam Veteran. His college (USMA) roommate was killed in Vietnam. Many of his classmates were killed as well, and he fought in Vietnam. He well knows the sacrifice.

The Bible tells us that "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13) Our service men and woman show great courage and love for their country every day by offering their life not only for their "friends" but for all people of our country.

Lee Greenwood goes on to sing in his song, "the flag still stands for freedom, and they can't take that away." Truth is, freedom is fleeting and our country has to be vigilant to defend our freedom. There is only one freedom that we have that is permanent.

That is those of us who have been made free in Christ. We are no longer slaves to sin, but free to receive eternal life. The Bible says, "So if the Son sets you free, you are free indeed." (John 8:36). True freedom comes from Jesus. And HE is the man who showed the greatest love by laying down his life for all mankind, if only they accept him as their savior.

It is a wonderful sentiment to say "God bless the USA!" But my prayer is that not only will God bless us, but that we may rise up and call him blessed as well. Amen.

End of the World, REM

It's the end of the world as we know it,
It's the end of the world as we know it.
It's the end of the world as we know it,
and I feel fine.
End of the World, REM, 1987

This past Saturday was designated by a "Christian" group to be Judgment Day. According to this group, the Rapture would occur at 6 p.m., followed with Earthquakes, and within 6 months the world would end.

This prediction led to lots of discussions on end times in the media. My local paper suggested that we should smoke unfiltered camel cigarettes and eat Big Macs. I guess the thought process behind that was consequence free actions, a very hedonistic attitude. It did cause me, however, to think what I would do if I knew it was the end times, my last day on earth.

My actual Saturday would have changed somewhat. I definitely would not have bothered with the laundry. I would have made phone calls to my non-believing family members to try once more to encourage them to follow Jesus, as well as give them instructions on how they can still believe after the Rapture, and receive eternal life. And finally, I would have made sure that my immediate family was all together at the designated time, hugging each other one last time with our earthly bodies.

However, when I looked at the "bigger" picture, about how I would have lived my life differently, I really couldn't find any changes. I don't have any things I wish I'd done. I have no regrets, no relationships I need to restore. I am at peace with my life, my friendships, my marriage, and most importantly my relationship with God. He has offered me His grace and salvation, and I have accepted them 100%. And it feels completely satisfying to know I am living my life in such a way that ANY day can be Judgment Day, and it's okay.

So when the time comes I can say, "It's the end of the world as we know it...and I feel fine." How do you feel about end times? Are you ready? What changes do you need to make so that when your time comes to stand before the Lord, you can say, "I feel fine."

Why Sign Language Makes Me Cry

Last Sunday at church the children sang and did sign language to the song. As usual, the sign language made me cry.

Sign language has always evoked emotion from me, and I even felt strongly that I should learn it. I remember about 18 years ago telling a coworker, "I feel like God wants me to learn sign language." I even added, "I feel like if I don't learn it, I'll have a deaf child." She said, "Well you better learn it!" And I think I said something like, "I know!" Yet I dismissed it.

I was not at a place in my faith to know what to do what such a feeling, with an impression on my heart from God. And so I ignored it. I got married, and had child #1, and then child #2, "Cici." When Cici was 12 months old she wasn't talking yet. The average 12 month old should have 3 words, with one of them being "mama." She had none.

At 16 months, the peditrician suggested intervention. We had a hearing test. As I sat there in the chair, I worried. Would she be deaf? I remembered that "feeling." Thanksfully, she was not but still no words by 18 months, and so she entered the early intervention system. To help with the frustration level of not being able to communication, we began...sign language.

By the time Cici was talking, she knew 80 signs. We communicated smoothly and effectively with sign language. And when she was tested at 3 years old, while she still scored low in the expressive speech (the ability to talk) she scored very high in receptive speech (the ability to understand). They credited her off the charts receptive speech to the signing.

As the years have gone by, we don't sign anymore. There is no need. But every time I see sign language, it makes my cry. Because it reminds me of the grace and mercy of a loving God who forgave me, when I ignored the feeling to learn sign language. And while he still made me learn it through a speech delayed child, his forgiveness, his love is what overwhelms my heart.

And every day when Cici leaves for school, there is one sign we still do. It's the sign for "I love you."

I'm Not Athletic

Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. Galatians 6:4

"I'm not athletic."

"Wait a minute," my new neighbor stopped me, "You're not athletic, you're not domestic, you're not...." She trailed off, and suddenly I felt very embarrassed. I'd only spoken with her 3 or 4 times since she moved into the neighborhood, and her comment made me realize I'd said something I "was not" every time I'd spoken to her.

The truth is, I'm not athletic. She was sharing about her hobby of running, and doing a high powered exercise program similar to what the Navy Seals do. I realized in that moment that subconsciously I must have been feeling inferior to her. And in my normal "chatty" way, I verbalized it, without even meaning too. "I'm not athletic."

To find out what I did next, meet me over at Titus 2 in Action, to read the rest of the story.

Fame, Part 2

Remember my name, (Fame).
I'm gonna live forever,
I'm gonna learn how to fly, (High).
Fame, Irene Cara, 1980

Early this year I wrote a blog post about "Fame." I wanted people to remember my name, so to speak. I want to take my writing to the next level. I wanted "fame."

Recently in one of my devotionals, I read these words of God from Jeremiah 45:5, "Should you then seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them." The devotional went on to say that Baruch (the person who the Lord addressed in the verse) was worried about his own safety, and he was also looking for FAME somehow. Wow. The fact that the devotional used that word hit me hard.

While we all want to be noticed, it is enough to be noticed by God! My name is written in the book of life (Rev 20:15), and inscribed in God's very hands! (Isaiah 49:16).

I don't need fame. I don't need people to know my name.
I need Jesus! He knows my name.

Shop Around, Smokey Robinson

My mama told me...
you better shop around.
Shop Around, Smokey Robinson, 1960

On this Monday after Mother's Day, it's a great time to reflect on things our mama's told us! Some things may have saved our lives, like "Look both ways before you cross the street." Some things were socially important, "Chew with your mouth shut." Others were important at the time, "Stop crying, or I'll give you something to cry about."

Yes, mothers have a way about them. A mother's job is raise her children. The Bible gives us examples of mothers. Jacob's mother was an example of a mother who want it all for their child at any cost. Samuel's mother was a wonderful example of a mother praying for their child. Ruth showed loyalty to her mother (in law).

There are versus that tell us to honor our mothers, and verses that teach us how to be mothers (train up a child in the way they should go).

Even if you feel like you missed out on the 'perfect' mother, you can be blessed in knowing God fills that void. "As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you," the Lord says in Isaiah 66:13. And even if the relationship was bad, we rest assured in knowing, "Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me." Psalm 27:10

I am blessed to be a mother of 2 daughters. My prayer is that they will grow up and say "My mama told me...about Jesus." It is my prayer that they will grow up to know and love the Lord, and that even though I will not always be on earth with them, that I will forever be in heaven with them.

I love my children, and I pray I am a good mother to them. I'm not a perfect mom. But I pray for my children, and thank God for them. I am blessed because of the gift of my children. And I pray that they are blessed because of me.

"Her children arise and call her blessed." Proverbs 31:28