Who Will You Be?

What do you want people to think when they think of you?

Will they think of the shabby stinky one who doesn't really care about them or what they're talking about? The lazy one with no aspiration?

Yesterday at the science fair I saw a kid that I'd seen only a couple of times before. He's somewhere in the 13-15 age group I think. Nothing special about him just by looking at him--average height, average weight, jeans and a mountain dew tee shirt...pretty normal kid. I didn't give him a second thought. Well, I was holding Bird's hand by Lane and Moose's display, and this kid holds out a bowl of popcorn to the Bird (part of his own display). "You want some popcorn?" he asks the Bird in a friendly sort of way. She had a bite and smiled all sweet and stuff, and he grinned and put the bowl back. I kinda tend to like people who are nice to my littles, so now this kid was now not just a kid--he was a nice kid.

But he was not done being a nice kid after that! I was in charge of lunch and drinks for everybody, and many of the kids would mutter, "ummmm....root beer please" when I asked them a question. But this guy came away from his display board a couple of times to the lunch room to help I assume his little sister get some pizza. He looked me in the eye and was nice and loud with his drink choice and said thank you. He and some other kids helped us clean up chairs afterward and I heard him call my Bird by her NAME. He must have heard one of us say it or something and remembered it. I was pretty impressed and I mentioned it in the car. J-dude said, "Oh, the kid with the green shirt? Yeah, he was nice, he helped me with my drink. The juice jug was REALLY full, so he poured it for me." K, so NOW I really like this kid, right? He presented himself very impressively and gave me reason to think well of him when I didn't even know him. That's the kind of impression I'm after when I'm with people--even if I don't know them!

But there's more to being impressive than just how you appear. It's also what you think about. What your dreams are. I've met boys who didn't really care about what they were going to be when they grew up, even if grown-updom was knocking at the door. They didn't have anything they cared about doing, and weren't even after any money really. No drive or hardworkingness. Girls do the same thing. Even if you are a girl who is not career-minded at all or doesn't need money, if you're not practicing to be a wife and mom one day than you are wasting your living time.

We are supposed to be people who accomplish things and do good to others in our occupations, as a witness to Christ. Let's be alert and think about such things!

Come to the talent show tonight, one and all! :D

Samuels

I was reminded the other day that I love 1st and 2nd Samuel and I haven't read them in a long while. So, I have started them again!

It all starts out with Samuel the prophet. His mum prayed for him, God gave her her wish, Samuel went to live in the temple to serve with Eli the priest, etc.

But during all this, Israel is at war with the Philistines. So the Israelites went out one day to fight the Philistines one day. They were expecting to win, but they were defeated and lost four thousand men to Philistine swords. So the elders of Israel (as in the wise, decision-making people) said to each other, "Why did the LORD bring defeat upon us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the LORD's covenant from Shiloh, so that it may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies."

So that IT may save us. IT. Not the LORD. They were treating the ark as like... "the Ring of Power" of something--some magic object that would save them. They didn't even take it as a SYMBOL of God's power and covenant. That wouldn't have been right either, but it makes more sense than "the Magic Ark". This sounds like the same thing using the LORD's name in vain to me.

Then what happened? It said the slaughter was great and the ark (that could not do a thing about it) was captured. 30,000 men died, and every other man fled to his tent.

The latest thing I'm praying about...

My mom and some ladies of our church were talking about different parenting books the other night. There are a great many, as we all know. I was just listening and thinking, maybe I should read a parenting book. I'm not a parent, but I work with kids in babysitting and with my own sibs. But then I thought maybe a parenting book still wouldn't be quite right for such a job as mine. I made an aloud wonder about the fact that there are a great many "parenting" books, but no "big sissying" books. This was met with the response. "You should write it! That would be perfect and it would sell!"

Hmmmm...would it? One part of me says I don't know if it's something I could do. I'm sure there are much better big sissys than me that should be doing it. I'm positive. But the other part of me says, those ones aren't doing it. And God has given me the most diverse set of little siblings to ever stick in one family. I have...

A quirky and gorgeous one who's always good for a story

A studly and goofy one in between kid and man

A flibbertygibbet who can think and do cool things

A quiet and loud at the same time one

One that just wants to have fun

A strange, surprising, cocky, and cute one

A precious baby girl with some bite

and

A small and serious one with a large vocabulary

The biggest thing I've learned with having eight, very different little sibs is how to generally get along with everybody. Living with such different personalities all the time I think has really helped me not just learn to get along with them, but with other different personalities outside the home.

I may just have to figure out how to transfer that from this thought, to like a big sissy study. If I did this thing I'd certainly need some help from my big sissy friends! Not to mention I have an adopted big sissy who's purty special to go off of a bit as well.

Just something I'm praying about...

Stomach Bug >:\

Does anyone have any idea how looooooooooooooooooog it takes for a stomach bug to trickle through an 11 person family?!?!? VERY frustratitating, especially when victim for some strange reason unbeknownst to me can't make it to the toilet. I may find out why this could be one day, but for now it is a mystery. LORD, send the stomach bug out so that none of our others have to have it! The way I've done the math, we're only about halfway through this thing. But these kids have LIVES to live! This stomach bug must not bring Taggs to a halt!

One thing comes to mind in this situation...let's all sing it together...

"Oh, God is bigger than the stomach bug!

He's bigger than a virus, or the germs that threaten me,

Oh, God is bigger than the stomach bug!

And He's watchin' out for you and me!

Watchin'...

Watchin'...

Watchiiiiiiinnnnnnnn'...

Out for you and MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"

Yeah!

One of those things that I would love to hear an insight about...

But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" ~ Jude 1:9

WHAT is going on here? What about the body of Moses? Why did the devil or the angel care? And especially how did Jude know about this? I would love it if there was some record of the fights that go on in the eternity realm...but what went on here?

Twas a nice, ripstickingful day what was warm today! :D

Show and Tell

Today I was prepping for teaching my co-op class. Today my boys were going to learn how to "show" things in their writing, not just "tell" them.

Example:

"Paul was very angry when he came into his room"

as opposed to:

"Paul's face turned beet red with rage as he stormed into his room, muttering evil things and kicking the furnature."

The first tells you about it. Very clearly and concisely. But you can't really understand exactly what happened until you read the one that SHOWS you about it.

So I'm getting all the prints and activities loaded up for class and I'm thinking about how this relates to sharing our faith. We can TELL about the love of Christ till our teeth fall out. But if we do not SHOW it--if it does not shine through us, how are people really to understand? That's something to admire about the disciples when they were telling their friends about Jesus after they had first met him. Their main line was, "Come and see!" They knew they couldn't fully tell about how amazing Jesus was. They didn't flounder for words or argue about how many good things possible could come out of Nazareth. They were ready to SHOW them their new master. Sometimes just words don't do it. Letting God's love show is what really counts. Has anyone ever noticed that our God is really really hard to try to describe? :)

Left Behind?

"I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book."

~ Revelation 22:18-19

A curious thought occured to me when I read this last night. I thought of the Left Behind book series, which is a fictional account of the second coming and all the things that happen in Revelation. I wonder what exactly John means by adding and taking words away. I'm pretty sure the authors of the LB books were not right about a whole bunch of stuff. As fiction authors, they added this and weren't sure about that. But then it is only meant to be fiction. Though I wonder if making fiction of it is taking the prophecy too lightly.

Any thoughts?

A Real Pastor

Anybody ever had a pastor? Probably. But do you have one that goes beyond Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights, who prays for you specifically and makes sure to check up on your life periodically? Maybe. But do you have one that still continues to be your pastor and do those things AFTER you've moved sixteen hours away and have another church and are technically under another pastor? Eh, no. You sure don't. That would just be ME.

Who knew when we walked into AHBC that it would mean this grand new thing called a pastor would happen? I'd had...I guess three real churches I remember clearly. I had enjoyed them all! The pastors were friendly and one in particular was a downright amazing teacher. I didn't really know any of them as a person, however. I didn't really know that it was possible to be able to go to one of them after the service and talk about what parts of the sermon eluded me or even how school was treating me or why the Colts were going to beat the Chargers. But in Alameda Hills, that is very possible. I'm not even sure how it happened that I was able to tell this pastor everything these things that God was doing in my life. He just made it his business to know what was up. I learned that even the things that were close to me that I wasn't that comfortable talking about were ok to communicate. After all, if he didn't know things how could he help or give ideas? Kinda like my mom and dad--they purty much know everything and sometimes it's good just that they know, and not even have any way to fix it at all. To an extent, it's the same deal with my pastor. I soon warmed up to sharing life's weirdities and hearing his always good input. He's always good for some teaching, advising, encouraging, correcting, and just to poke some fun.

I think this is what God meant the pastor of a church to be. Jesus did the same thing. He spent an awful lot of time talking to people. He was a teacher, a healer, a friend, a brother, all kinds of things. He talked to the people who didn't matter--Samaritan women, beggars, demon-possesed outcasts, and even lepers. In the same way, a good pastor is not just a teacher, but someone who takes an interest in the people of his congregation and is there for them if they need somebody. All that to say, I have a pastor like that. I can keep up with his teaching online, he emails little tidbits that make me smile, and he calls me when he suspects trouble, all in his work for Christ. I thank the LORD for pastors like that, and especially mine. Love you Les!

My Favorite Skillet Song

Skillet ~ Rest

Still, soft quietly spoken voice

That persistently calls my name

And quickens my heart to come

And I come

And I rest in the shelter of Your love

And I rest in the wonder of Your grace

And I rest in the shelter of Your love

And I rest in the wonder of You

Embraced in the promise of You

Is rest for the weary soul

Releasing all that is mine

I reach for You

Take all the old and You make it new

Eveything I give to You

You're the hope that can pull me through

Hallelujah

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

~ Matthew 11:28

 

Isn't amazing that our God can be run to as an escape from everything?

Too close of a call

Tonight while I was grieving the loss of the Superbowl, my friend Andrew and my aquaintance Chris were out driving. They missed a curve and their car flipped 2 1/2 times. Chris (the driver) was thrown from the car before the driver's seat was completely crushed. Andrew was still in the car and took a hit to the head, some bruised ribs, and some shock, but was able to call for help. I found all this out on fb and few really knew any details while I worried myself crazy while important people figured out what happened. Finally I ascertained that Chris is in the ER with broken ribs and other forms of very banged upedness, but they don't think there is any other damage. Andrew was released from the hospital and got to go home, and then got on facebook--a HUGE woosh of relief for me.

The entire thought and the unexpectedness of it all just made me sick. Amazing how the LORD protected them and kept them as safe as He did. This whole thing reminded me how quickly things change and how much I take for granted--even the things I love like my family, my own ability to breathe, and the tall, spiky-haired, elvish-looking indivdual who enjoys picking a fight with me. Thank you God for protecting Andrew and for again showing me how all-powerful you are. AND for reminding me that I need to show my appreciation for the people you give me in life, before it's too late for either me or them. Thank you for sparing me my friend, and continue to show your blessing and healing to Chris who is still in the hospital.

It reminds me of a song...

LIVE LIKE WE'RE DYING

by Kris Allen

Sometimes we fall down and can't get back up

we're hiding behind skin that's too tough

how come we don't say I love you enough

till it's too late, it's not too late

Our hearts are hungry for a food that won't come

we could make a feast from these crumbs

and we're all staring down the barrel of a gun

so if your life flashed before you

what would you wish you would've done

Yeah... gotta start

lookin at the hand of the time we've been given here

this is all we got and we gotta start pickin it

every second counts on a clock that's tickin'

gotta live like we're dying

We only got

86 400 seconds in a day to

turn it all around or throw it all away

we gotta tell 'em that we love 'em

while we got the chance to say

gotta live like we're dying

And if your plane fell out of the skies

who would you call with your last goodbyes

should be so careful who we live out our lives

so when we long for absolution

there'll no one on the line

Yeah... gotta start

lookin at the hand of the time we've been given here

this is all we got and we gotta start pickin it

every second counts on a clock that's tickin'

gotta live like we're dying

We only got

86 400 seconds in a day to

turn it all around or throw it all away

we gotta tell 'em that we love 'em

while we got the chance to say

gotta live like we're dying

Person reading this, I love you! Come see me so I can tell you so.

There is no one better to trust than our God!

If there is one thing I have learned in 18 years, it is that the LORD's plan is always the best plan.
I have learned that He will work everything out for me in the best way without making mistakes.
I love to be able to trust Him with every little thing that may come up in life.
And even when I don't understand His reasoning, I love that I can know it's a GOOD reasoning that won't ever fall through.
He brings special people and circumstances into life at just the right time, and helps me know what to do with them.
He's the kind of God that you can approach about ANYTHING. There aren't many humans that you can just talk to about ANYTHING. But with God, you can whine to at the end of the day about how you can't find your favorite lip gloss, praise about the beautiful day, and beg to forgive you after you've done something that displeased him. He listens to all of it as if He has nothing else to do.
He likes to make things a little interesting. His irony can make you laugh any day.
No matter what anyone else thinks of you, you are His child that he loves unconditionally.

So, with the bare bones of advantages up there alone, it would seem that God would be one we can trust--the one who will never leave us out to dry, even if everyone else deserts us.


"It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man." ~ Psalm 118:8

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD." ~ Jeremiah 17:7

"...the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory...O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man who trusts in You!" ~ Psalm 84:11-12
"Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust." ~ Psalm 16:1

"Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid." ~ Isaiah 12:2
"I will love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies." ~ Psalm 18:1-3
"Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name." ~ Psalm 33:20-21