Honoring Loved Ones

My dad hosts a family dinner about every six weeks. All his children and grandchildren meet for dinner at a pizza place near his house. My dad is like a mother hen, so happy having all his chicks in the nest together. Even though it is chaotic, with so many people, he loves it. And while you can only talk to the those seated around you, and miss lots of the conversation, my dad takes it all in.

One of the extended family members doesn't like the restaurant. "Why do we always have to go there, the food is terrible. And we can't even all visit with each other," she complains. The funny thing is I don't particularly care for the food there either. But what I do love is my dad.

The restaurant is close and convenient to his home, and reasonably priced. I don't go for the food, I go for my father. My dad is 75 years old. So I savor these dinners of chaos and craziness, because I know one day, we won't be having them.

And when that day comes, I won't remember the rubbery pizza. I'll remember the contented look on my dad's face when everyone finally got there...right on time, but because he was 10 minutes early (as usual) he was worried someone would forget. I'll remember how he lined the grandchildren up, youngest to oldest, and gave them each a $20 bill. And I'll remember the time he surprised them and gave them all $100 bills. And I might even want to go eat at the pizza place again, just to remember.

And one things for sure, I know I won't ever say "I wish I had eaten at a better restaurant." I will say, "I wish I could eat that rubbery pizza, with my dad, just one more time."

Who can you honor today by putting aside your own desires, and meeting them where they are?

"Honor your father...." Exodus 20:12

Validated!

Recently I had to park in a parking deck. I was surprised at how much parking costs, but since there was no street parking, I didn't really have a choice. I parked and went inside the building.

But there at the front desk I received a surprise. "We validate parking," the sign said. I simply presented my card, the woman gave it an official "validated" stamp, and when I left the lot, I simply showed my stamp and I could leave, with my debt paid.

In real life, I have spent so much of time at "front desks" seeking people to stamp me with their "validated" stamp. According to dictionary.com, validated means to give approval to. I volunteer for positions, and work hard and do a good job, yes in part because I am a hard worker, but also because I was seeking the validation stamp, that "good job," that approval that I am a good person.

But something has changed over time...it's me! God has been working through me. Recently the Bible study class I attended ended as the leader decided to take a break. Ordinarily I would have immediately volunteered to take over. Then everyone could see what I great job I would do. Everyone would see what a hard worker I am. Everyone would validate me. And while that first impulse did rise up in me, I was able to hold it in check, evaluate if this position was truly something I should take, realize my schedule is too full, and walk away from it, without guilt!

I was also recently asked if I would serve on the women's ministry at church. "I've arrived!" That has been my goal since I began attending this church several years ago. Because at the time we joined, that would have validated me. But since I've grown, I didn't feel the need to immediately say yes. Again, I am taking the time to see if this ministry is something that fits into my schedule and that I can bless.

I wish I had a formula to share with you how my validation happened. I don't! I have known all along that Jesus validated me, signed in blood, since I accepted him as my Savior. But this change in me has taken years of study, prayer and growth.

It's nothing I did, but Christ working in me. If you are feeling the need for validation, the need for approval from others, I urge you to continue to draw close to God. There is no secret formula...but God promises that if we draw near to him, he will draw near to us. Then one day, when you least expect it, you will realize the growth and change that he has made in you. To God be the glory!

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 4:8

Guest Post: Back to School...Pray!

Back to School ... Pray! By Carla McDougal Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. Deuteronomy 6:5,7 Excitement’s in the air! Anticipation rises. It’s that time of year when the kids go back to school. Who can forget watching your child go to "big school" for the first time? I remember those bittersweet moments as each of my four children kissed me good-bye. I always knew that day would arrive, but nothing prepared me for the moment. Elementary school seemed to fly by and almost overnight they were in junior high and then high school. And in a blink of an eye, they were off to college. Where did the years go? I learned early on that when my children were away from home, praying for them comforted me. By turning them over to God I experienced a calm peace. Year after year my prayers intensified, yet remained the same… Elementary School – Will he make a friend? Will he eat all his lunch, or just the cookies and chips? God help him to love You with all his heart. Junior/Senior High –Will he make the right friends? Is he paying attention to the teacher? God, help him love You with all his soul. College - Will he make some forever friends? Is he making the right life decisions? God, help him to love You with all his strength. Just as our children face challenges, we as moms face our own set of challenges… To pray over our children no matter where they are in life. To be on our knees for those God entrusted to us. To ultimately pray for each child to love Jesus with all his heart, soul, and mind! Finally, to let them know we are praying for them each day! What a blessing it is to pray for our children. I ask you to take advantage of this new season too. Do you need a fresh start? Where are you in your relationship with God? In my Bible study, Reflecting Him – Living for Jesus and Loving It, I encourage you to find Jesus in your everyday activities. He is there for us 24 hours a day, and He wants to hear our everyday prayers!

Author Bio CARLA MCDOUGAL is founder of Reflective Life Ministries headquartered in the Houston, Texas area. Her true passion for her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, shines brightly, whether she is speaking or writing. She shares experiences from her own life to encourage women to live every day for Him. God is sending Carla around the world to speak to women from all walks of life—those living in the best of circumstances to those who have hit rock bottom. Carla’s book, Reflecting Him: Living for Jesus and Loving It, is a 10-week study that encourages you to open your eyes to God’s daily life lessons. The more you ask God to be in your life, the more you will recognize His hand on everything you do. For more information on a growing number of products from Reflective Life Ministries, and to see about booking Carla for an event or interview, go to www.reflectivelifeministries.org.

Top 10 Reasons I Don't Video Blog: Vlog Post

Okay, well here is it! My first video blog entitled the Top 10 Reasons I Don't Video Blog. Let me know what you think. :-)

So Many Gifts

Today I am without power, internet, phone, cable, and on and on, as a result of Hurricane Irene hitting our area, in Virginia. I spent hours yesterday raking debris out of the yard, and again this morning. The tree man is expected today to come with a crane to take the tree off of our roof, and cut it and haul it away.

Yet, if I really consider it, I have nothing to complain about. A generator hums in the backyard, powering our fridge, lights, stove. We have water. And while the a/c isn't on, a cool breeze is in the air, and while its about 81 degrees in the house, it's not miserable.

My family is safe, we are unharmed in any way. We are inconvenienced. And yet so many of the conveniences that we are missing, are things that other people don't have every day. And yet, we feel the right to complain, we are to be privileged and not inconvenienced.

No. Lord, help me remember how blessed I am. Let me be like the apostle Paul and learn to be content in all circumstance. Let me be grow through this, and be more like Jesus.

10 Blessings:

1. The cool breeze outside.

2. Neighborhood friends to play with my kids.

3. A generator!

4. No structural damage to our house.

5. Fresh fruit, veggies, and an abundance of food.

6. Portable DVD players to watch movies.

7. A chance to slow down and not be in such a rush, live in the moment.

8. Insurance companies who come by your house on a Sunday, and give you a check.

9. A husband who rewires the generator so that you can run the dishwasher. *love him!*

10. Children who pitch in and help, and don't complain about what we don't have. *love them!*

Thank you Jesus for my blessings, help me see them as the gifts they are!

Pterodactyls, Gorbachev & the Beach

Seagulls fly low, their shadows passing over large like pterodactyls.

I sit in a low chair, running sand through my fingers like a sieve.

The 7 yr old digs a hole with a giant sand wall around it, with the help of her engineer daddy. And while I watch the waves come around the wall, I can't help but think of Reagan, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"

When the 7 yr old gets in the water, she dances, fingers snapping, hips shaking, to the sound of the surf or maybe the music only she hears in her head.

The 12 yr old spends her whole time in the ocean, riding waves, and bobbing in the surf, a mermaid. Her arms ache by day's end from riding the boogie board.

Our family vacation. We relax and renew together. And in the wind and waves I feel God's presence and his power. And I am so thankful for my life.

Vacation!

Vacation, all I ever wanted.

Vacation, had to get away.

Vacation, Go-Gos, 1982

It's about time for my family to head out of town on vacation. I can't wait! We've got our bags packed, the house sitter is scheduled to take care of the dogs, and all is well. Sometimes it's hard to get away. Life is busy, and there is always something we could be doing, other than vacationing.

However, God himself implemented the very important task of resting. Resting doesn't seem like a task. It seems more of an anti-task. Yet, the Bible tells us on the 7th day, God rested. If the all-powerful creator of the Universe made it a point to rest, shouldn't we?

The Bible goes on to tell us that Jesus will provide us his rest, which is peace. If your soul is troubled, your faith in Jesus will give you the peace that passes human understanding.

I'm so thankful for my faith in God! He provides me peace. And I am so thankful for his example to take a physical rest too.

VACATION - here we come!