My husband likes to tease me about the reality shows that I watch..before you gasp--- I'll just admit to you the shows that I watch: all of the Bravo Real Housewives shows, Guiliana and Bill, Tori and Dean.. I'm reality show junkie. I think it's the fact that I am a people watcher. Seriously, give me a cup of coffee and a good seat, and I'll sit and watch people forever. It's interesting to see how people interact, to wonder what people are really like. I know that these shows are a bit campy, but to me, it's like being a fly on the wall. Of course, my hubby thinks they are all absurd! I know that some of you out there know exactly what shows I'm talking about because you watch them, too!
For the last several weeks, I've been watching the Real Housewives of NYC.. and oh goodness, I have been bothered. There are two friends, that in previous seasons, were the best of best friends. During this past year, they had a major falling out and seemingly didn't address the issues, until one of them thought they were past the point of no return. I've watched this feeling like I know them (one of the reasons that my sweet hubby thinks I'm a little silly for watching), but come on, friends out there- Do you ever put your self in these situations? How many of us have disagreed with a close friend and wondered if forgiveness was an option. The TRUTH is written here- Mark 11:25-26 "If you have anything against someone, forgive—only then will your heavenly Father be inclined to also wipe your slate clean of sins."
You see, when we are wronged, and we ALL have been at some point, we dwell on the hurt, the misunderstanding, the pain caused by someone we've trusted. What we forget in these times, is that at some point we have probably inflicted the same hurt or pain on someone else. The hurt usually seems so one-sided that we think we have the choice to not forgive what has been done to us. The Bible clearly says that we don't have that choice. We MUST forgive to have the Father forgive our sins. If you're like me, you are glad to know that there is grace for my missteps, my SIN. Let's face it... we are all in need of GRACE, the Son of God, and we should never take for granted all that we have been forgiven!
I recently had a friend come back into my life, after a time where I will admit that I held on to a grudge. I can't really tell you where she was with her process of forgiveness, but I know that I held onto my end for way too long. We reconnected and I was so blessed by her friendship. It was good to remember what made us friends, initially and to recount the great times that we had shared. The forgiveness helped us move forward and opened the door for us to rebuild a great friendship.
Always remember what brought you together, what made you friends.. it was something special. Measure someone else by the same measure that you'd hope to be measured. We must remember that we're all human, we all hurt others at some point, and we ALL need to be forgiven at some point. Most of all remember that Jesus died to forgive us and we hadn't even sinned yet. Yet, He made to ultimate sacrifice and cleared the slate.
PS.. in my wildest dreams, maybe those two NYC Housewives will read this and rethink their friendship. A girl can hope, can't she?!
Friday, April 9, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Deep Thoughts On A Snowy Day
I'm sitting here at my desk with a fresh cup of coffee.. honestly, I should be doing something a little more productive. Have you ever had so much on your mind that you really couldn't focus on all those things on your list? Believe me, right now, there is so much to be done that I don't know where to begin. Dan and I have some big decisions ahead of us, but I've talked to lots of my friends and it seems as though many people are in that same boat right now. Along with decisions, there seems to come the struggle with keeping peace, joy, and grace in our outlook. Yesterday, I had the thought.."Too bad you can't buy the fruit of the Spirit at Target." (Target has everything else, doesn't it) Silly, I know, but I wish it were that easy. Reality is that you just can't find love, joy, peace, patience and all of those other qualities on Aisle 3 at Target.
2 Thessalonians 3:16 AMP Now may the Lord of peace Himself grant you His peace (the peace of His kingdom) at all times and in all ways [under all circumstances and conditions, whatever comes]. So my realization was that peace really is that easy, it's reaching up, and accepting what God has already given us. What I need to do is simply set aside my cares, fears, and needs..then just let the peace of God fill my heart. One of the most amazing things that I have discovered is that when you start walking in just one of these gifts, when you accept what is already provided by our Heavenly Father.. then all of the other things come right along. His Word tell us that He has given us HIS peace at all times for all circumstances. So I remind myself that He sees my needs, He knows what I need, He knows every single care in my life.. AND, God has every answer. Waiting can be the hard part, but choosing to stay at peace, not fretting that God won't hear my prayers.. but rather trusting and remembering that Numbers 23:19 says- God is not man, one given to lies, and not a son of man, changing his mind. Does he speak and not do what he says? Does he promise and not come through? Yes, He will come through .. and until then, I'm off to tackle that list!!
2 Thessalonians 3:16 AMP Now may the Lord of peace Himself grant you His peace (the peace of His kingdom) at all times and in all ways [under all circumstances and conditions, whatever comes]. So my realization was that peace really is that easy, it's reaching up, and accepting what God has already given us. What I need to do is simply set aside my cares, fears, and needs..then just let the peace of God fill my heart. One of the most amazing things that I have discovered is that when you start walking in just one of these gifts, when you accept what is already provided by our Heavenly Father.. then all of the other things come right along. His Word tell us that He has given us HIS peace at all times for all circumstances. So I remind myself that He sees my needs, He knows what I need, He knows every single care in my life.. AND, God has every answer. Waiting can be the hard part, but choosing to stay at peace, not fretting that God won't hear my prayers.. but rather trusting and remembering that Numbers 23:19 says- God is not man, one given to lies, and not a son of man, changing his mind. Does he speak and not do what he says? Does he promise and not come through? Yes, He will come through .. and until then, I'm off to tackle that list!!
Friday, February 26, 2010
Words Like Honey
My morning devotions spoke straight to my heart this morning. As I was reading, this verse jumped off the page to me.. Proverbs 16:24 "Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the mind and healing to the body." WOW.. how did the Lord know that I've been struggling with words coming out of my mouth that aren't.. um, so much like honey and more like vinegar?? You see, lately, I have been overwhelmed by the circumstances in my life. I know that God is bigger than my circumstances, but I have allowed myself to let the circumstances weigh on my heart and the result has not been pretty. Someone very close to me asked me a few nights ago, "Have you heard yourself lately? You're complaining about everything?" Ouch! Thing sad thing was, that yes, I did realize that I had been letting any and everything get to me and I WAS complaining about all of it!!
I had already made the decision to consider everything that I spoke.. but how gentle and gracious our Heavenly Father is to us. Pleasant words are like a honeycomb...yes, they are! Today, I will choose to let my words be sweet and words that bless, encourage, and I choose to be grateful. This is an act of faith, because you see, my circumstances haven't changed, but the attitude of my heart has!
I had already made the decision to consider everything that I spoke.. but how gentle and gracious our Heavenly Father is to us. Pleasant words are like a honeycomb...yes, they are! Today, I will choose to let my words be sweet and words that bless, encourage, and I choose to be grateful. This is an act of faith, because you see, my circumstances haven't changed, but the attitude of my heart has!
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Faith
The year 2009 came to an very unexpected end for my family. We were not mentally prepared for the attack that came, we didn't see it coming... but one thing was certain- We were SPIRITUALLY prepared. You see, as a child, my parents made decision to "Train me up in the way I should go". I was blessed with the opportunity to attend Christian school and we were a part of a great church. Church and school were not the only two places where the foundation of my faith was laid. My mom and dad lived a life of faith, morality, and walked a close walk with God. They showed me how to not just say I was a Christian, but rather they built a relationship with Christ. We've all heard- You don't just need religion, you need a relationship. The difference to me between these two is that religion can just be words, but a relationship with Christ requires effort, communion, and interaction. All of that said... Mom and Dad taught and showed me how to have faith. Faith.. the hope/belief of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 says- The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see.
The last 35 days have been a true test of that faith. We have watched my mom struggle to recover from a vicious attack on her body. The enemy was underhanded and attacked her brain. My thought is that he knew her mind held so much of the Word of God, so much that she had studied.. but what the enemy didn't know was that MY MOM didn't just store the Word in her head, she stored it in her heart, in her spirit. Although the last month has been a struggle for her to recovery, it is very evident that her faith is still there, still strong, and pushing her through.
A month before all of these events, I was praying and asked the Lord to meet a certain need. He told me.. "I will meet this need, but you must remember to have faith that I will do what I say that I will and leave NO room for doubt." I thought.. that sounds simple enough. Faithful to His Word, God answered that initial prayer that I had prayed. Then when my dad called to say that my mom had been taken to the hospital, the phrase-Leave no room for doubt, came back to me. So many of our family and friends have stood so graciously with us, praying and believing that God would restore Mom's health and heal her wounds (Jeremiah 30:17). But I want to say, it's not just this promise that has held my faith.. there are teachers, children's church workers, pastors and of course, my parents that took the time to teach me that God is faithful to what His Word says. He will make this crooked path straight.. He hears my prayers and He WILL heal my mom.
So remember, whether you're a parent or teacher, or whatever door opportunity to plant a seed of faith in a child's heart.. you might not see that flower bloom today, but knows when they'll need it and your labor is not in vain! Lay a strong foundation of faith for your family because you never know when that faith will seemingly rise up and carry you ALL through.
The last 35 days have been a true test of that faith. We have watched my mom struggle to recover from a vicious attack on her body. The enemy was underhanded and attacked her brain. My thought is that he knew her mind held so much of the Word of God, so much that she had studied.. but what the enemy didn't know was that MY MOM didn't just store the Word in her head, she stored it in her heart, in her spirit. Although the last month has been a struggle for her to recovery, it is very evident that her faith is still there, still strong, and pushing her through.
A month before all of these events, I was praying and asked the Lord to meet a certain need. He told me.. "I will meet this need, but you must remember to have faith that I will do what I say that I will and leave NO room for doubt." I thought.. that sounds simple enough. Faithful to His Word, God answered that initial prayer that I had prayed. Then when my dad called to say that my mom had been taken to the hospital, the phrase-Leave no room for doubt, came back to me. So many of our family and friends have stood so graciously with us, praying and believing that God would restore Mom's health and heal her wounds (Jeremiah 30:17). But I want to say, it's not just this promise that has held my faith.. there are teachers, children's church workers, pastors and of course, my parents that took the time to teach me that God is faithful to what His Word says. He will make this crooked path straight.. He hears my prayers and He WILL heal my mom.
So remember, whether you're a parent or teacher, or whatever door opportunity to plant a seed of faith in a child's heart.. you might not see that flower bloom today, but knows when they'll need it and your labor is not in vain! Lay a strong foundation of faith for your family because you never know when that faith will seemingly rise up and carry you ALL through.
Friday, November 20, 2009
A Lesson in Thankfulness
At the beginning of November, someone on Facebook challenged others to use their status update to give thanks for blessings in their lives, daily. As I began each day, I would contemplate and think of all of the blessings in my life that I am thankful for. My family, my health, my freedom... the list goes on and on. But what this challenge helped me to remember, was that, although I have these blessings, others sometimes don't. These reflections also helped me to put into perspective how often I take all that I've been given so for granted.
I was single for so long and prayed for a family of my own. So now, on the days when I have mountains of laundry, piles of dirt, dirty dishes, and NO ENERGY.. I remind myself that I waited for Dan, Christopher, and Cy, I prayed for them to come into my life. So now, I wouldn't trade them for a moment of peace or a perfect house. This has also reminded me to pray and believe for my friends, who are still patiently waiting and praying for God to bring them a Godly husband and sweet babies!
My family is also healthy... how often do we forget to be thankful for that blessing?! Sometimes it's a headline or overheard conversation about a sick child or someone's relative... I am so grateful for the health that we have been blessed with. This blessing reminded me that there are families that will celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years' in a hospital ... the gift they'll be hoping and praying for is that their loved one will make it just a little longer.
What I hope to accomplish during the upcoming holidays, is that we become a blessing to others who might not have a family, health, or much to be thankful for. Dan and I are planning on taking the boys to our local rescue mission. We've challenged the boys to pick out a toy of their own that they will donate to the missions. We're also going to plan a day to serve at a Ronald McDonald house. My prayer is that these small act of kindness will open our eyes to all that we've been blessed with and open our hearts to become an even bigger blessing to others. I have a feeling that at the end of those moments of serving, God will have planted even more of a desire to become a servant to all.
Happy Thanksgiving... take time to remember your blessings and challenge yourself and your family to find an area of need. Someone out there is praying that you will be obedient!
I was single for so long and prayed for a family of my own. So now, on the days when I have mountains of laundry, piles of dirt, dirty dishes, and NO ENERGY.. I remind myself that I waited for Dan, Christopher, and Cy, I prayed for them to come into my life. So now, I wouldn't trade them for a moment of peace or a perfect house. This has also reminded me to pray and believe for my friends, who are still patiently waiting and praying for God to bring them a Godly husband and sweet babies!
My family is also healthy... how often do we forget to be thankful for that blessing?! Sometimes it's a headline or overheard conversation about a sick child or someone's relative... I am so grateful for the health that we have been blessed with. This blessing reminded me that there are families that will celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years' in a hospital ... the gift they'll be hoping and praying for is that their loved one will make it just a little longer.
What I hope to accomplish during the upcoming holidays, is that we become a blessing to others who might not have a family, health, or much to be thankful for. Dan and I are planning on taking the boys to our local rescue mission. We've challenged the boys to pick out a toy of their own that they will donate to the missions. We're also going to plan a day to serve at a Ronald McDonald house. My prayer is that these small act of kindness will open our eyes to all that we've been blessed with and open our hearts to become an even bigger blessing to others. I have a feeling that at the end of those moments of serving, God will have planted even more of a desire to become a servant to all.
Happy Thanksgiving... take time to remember your blessings and challenge yourself and your family to find an area of need. Someone out there is praying that you will be obedient!
Monday, September 21, 2009
Time Changes Things
Most people who know my Dad, know that he loves all things football. He loves the little guys just starting out, the Jr. High teams, High School football (especially in Texas), also, the Texas Tech Red Raiders, but most of all.. He LOVES the Dallas Cowboys.
This weekend, there were two important games. Texas Tech played Texas and the Cowboys played the Giants. While I was growing up, I clearly remember that from around September until the Super Bowl, our television at home would be tuned to any games being aired. This of course was not my favorite time of the year. You see, I was a girly girl and football was of no interest to me. My poor dad, I was his only child and he really wanted me to like it. He even asked me to try out for the boys team a couple of times. He thought I could do some damage on the field! I was not interested and rarely sat down to watch a game with him. What a silly girl I was!
For the last year, I've been a married woman, living far away from my dad. Although I love being married and have a wonderful life here, living far from my family has not been an easy adjustment. This last weekend, I knew that these games were coming up and I also knew that my Dad would be watching. So for the first time in my life, I sat and watched most of the games, just to feel a little closer to my Dad.
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