Random Thoughts

Sometimes we just have random thoughts that pop into our heads. I like to make lists of my random thoughts. Ok, to be honest, I like making lists of lots of things. Lists make me happy. Lists keep me organized. Lists make my OCD brain feel like there's some order in this crazy world. So today, I simply share a list of random thoughts from this past week.

1. I'm much happier on a sunny day than I am on a rainy day.
2. Just seeing the chairs on the porch makes me feel good.
3. I know I'd feel even better if it was warm enough to sit on said chairs.
4. I have lots of books on my Kindle and need to get reading.
5. Hearing the laughter of my grandchild brings joy to my heart at a level I never thought possible.
6. I can't fix problems for even those closest to me. But I'm realizing that praying for them is working toward a fix.
7. We use the word "awesome" far too often. I'm working to learn to only use it when talking about God and what He does.
8. We test kids way too much! And the most important tests we give them are made by people completely out of touch with what we see in the classroom every day. 
9. Laying in bed with my husband and watching TV at 8:47 can be so relaxing.
10. God gave me 2 of the most amazing blessings when he gave me my 2 kids. They're pretty swell human beings.
11. My brain is pretty random. I could keep going and going with this list of randomness.

Enjoy the rest of your week!

In the Palm of His Hand

You get a bonus blog post today! I'm sure you're excited. haha Yes, I realize I'm probably the only one who actually reads this blog...besides my husband. But he's sort of obligated to. But I had a thought to share and it was too long for a status. I hope the right people read this.

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I'm reading Gripped by the Greatness of God written by James MacDonald. I usually don't enjoy non-fiction unless it's about Titanic history, the Royal Family or education. However, I love digging into this book. I'm learning so much about my God and Savior through the eyes of Isaiah. What I read today really got me to thinking.

Isaiah 40:12 says, "Who has measure the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?" Mr. MacDonald writes, "Cup your hand. Look at that little place down there in the middle. Think about all of the water in all the world - God measured the oceans from the hollow of His hand. To be a little more exact, that's 912,500 cubic miles of water. That's a mile by a mile by a mile, 912,500 times. And God's like, 'Got it right here in My palm.'"*

Whoa!! That's a pretty incredible thought. I mean, I've tried to use the palm of my hand to get enough water to rinse my mouth out when brushing my teeth and didn't have a cup handy. I can only fit a tablespoon or so in there. Yet God can hold 912,500 cubic miles worth of water in the palm of His hand. And I have a feeling there's room to hold a sandwich in there with it. (Sorry, just had to throw that in there! I know there isn't Biblical evidence that God even eats sandwiches)

So, if He can hold all that water in that little cup formed when He holds His hand out, what makes me think He can't hold me? How often do we cry out, "God, help me!"? How about we change those pleas to, "God, hold me!" Do you believe He is able to hold you? I believe it. I trust it. And I'm going to count on it. God, You can hold every drop of water in every ocean, lake, river, pond and stream. I know You can - and do - hold me. Thank you!

Friend, if you're struggling and feeling like God dropped you out of His hand, believe me...you're still sitting right there! He won't let go. Rest in His hand. Feel the warmth of His palm. Trust in Him to hold you through. No matter what you're going through, it didn't take Him by surprise. And He never let go of you! Don't let go of Him!

*MacDonald, James (2005). Gripped by the Greatness of God. Pg. 46 Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers

Tales from the Porch

My favorite part of our house very well might not be inside the house. It has a floor, it has a ceiling with a roof over it. It has a light. However, it's missing walls. My favorite part of our house just very well may be our front porch. Yesterday was the day I "opened" our front porch for the season. Opening our porch involves taking the tarp off the furniture, putting the glider and chairs where they belong, putting the little end tables out, putting the cushions on the glider and hanging up the wind chimes.

So, what could possibly make a front porch be my favorite part of my house? It's where I can bond with my family. There's no TV to distract attention. There's no computer to occupy your time. You sit and listen to the wind chimes, watch neighbors walk or ride bikes by, see traffic pass by (which doesn't usually involve many cars in our little neck of the woods) and chat with whoever you have the pleasure of sitting with. My husband and I spend a lot of time on our front porch together. We take pictures of things we see from the porch, we talk about things we'd like to plant in the garden, we talk about how our day was, what we'd like to do with the yard, and many other topics. Sometimes we just sit and watch the neighborhood activity. A young boy walks by on his way to the park, bouncing a basketball; a couple girls riding their bikes; young couples walking their dog; older couples walking hand-in-hand. It's a great place to be.

Then I think about how the importance of a front porch has changed. There once was a time when people almost expected to have a front porch. Neighbors would walk from one house to the next, sit on the porch with a glass of tea or lemonade (provided by the owner of the porch) and just visit. Porch to porch. Sipping tea. Connecting with neighbors. When we drive places, my husband notices barns and landscaping. I notice front porches. I comment about ones that are too small. If you can't fit three or more chairs on the porch, how much connecting can happen? I drool over large wrap-around porches. I see how other people set their porches up, how they have them decorated. I get ideas for what I can do with ours.

Author Philip Gulley talks about front porches in his fiction books. He talks about people connecting with their neighbors on front porches. Connecting is important. Loving your neighbors is important. Listening to what's important in the lives of your friends and loved ones is important. These things are so important that God created front porches. OK, I know that God didn't "create" front porches. But I like to think that his Upper Room was more like a front porch. A place for connection. A place for loving His followers. Who will you invite to your "front porch" this spring/summer? If you don't have a front porch, stick a couple chairs outside your front door. Sit and watch your neighborhood activity. I'll bet someone will stop by to chat. You won't regret it. Love. Connect. Chat. Visit. Listen.

Embracing Differences

Today I watched the movie "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas." I've been wanting to see it for quite some time. It's about a young boy whose father is a soldier in Poland when their family is transferred to Berlin. From his bedroom window, young Bruno can see a "farm" in the distance. He sees children playing outside and wants to go play with them. His father tells his mother that the "farm" is a Nazi concentration camp and Bruno is told he can not go near there. However, he sneaks his way through the woods and fields to go near the "farm" to make friends. He meets a child his age named Shmuel. They quickly become friends through the electric barbed wire fence. Bruno visits his friend every day. He wonders why Shmuel wears "striped pajamas" but doesn't see Shmuel as being any different than he is. They hatch a plan whereby Shmuel will get a pair of "striped pajamas" for Bruno and he will dig a hole under the fence to come in and help Shmuel find his father. The boys are in the hut (men's barracks) when soldiers come in and herd them all to a small building where they are all told to undress. One of the men thinks they're being given a shower. In all actuality, they're all being put into a gas chamber. By the time Bruno's parents realize he is gone and trace where he has run off to, he has been killed along with many Jewish men and boys.

So, this movie got me to thinking of something that has become a huge problem in our society today. Too many people think that people who are a different race, religion, gender, nationality or sexual preference than they are must be wrong or even evil. What I'm about to tell you may make you think less of me. It may even make you decide you can't be friends with me. That's certainly your decision to make. But I hope none of my friends are that shallow. Here's what I have to say:
I don't care what race, religion, gender, nationality or sexual preference you are. You were created by the same God I was. That doesn't mean I have to agree with you. Good heavens! I don't agree with every Caucasian, Christian, straight woman born in America either. You still deserve my respect. I have friends who are Catholic, Christian, Muslim, Jewish, white, black, Mexican, straight, gay, and everything in between. Why in the world can't we all be like Bruno? Why can't we want to be friends with someone just because they're human and need someone to care? Why must they be exactly the same as us?

Matthew 22:29 says "And the second is like it" 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" By the way, these words are in red in my Bible. That means Jesus Himself commanded us to love our neighbors.

You say, "Well, the people who live by me are all just like me." Let me clear up who your neighbors really are. Luke 10:30-37 says this: In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled,  came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' 36 "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" 37 The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

So I ask you...will you "Go and do likewise"? Don't concern yourself with their race, religion or sexual preference. Worry about whether you showed the love of Jesus to them!

God Sits

In less than 2 months time, we needed 3 new tires. And God sat.

While driving our daughter to work last week, the alternator on my husband's 1995 Chevy Astro Van went out. And God sat. 

Our son-in-law-to-be has been searching for a full-time job. And God sat.

My husband and son have battled depression recently. And God sat.

Lots of snow days over the winter have meant smaller paychecks for me. And God sat.

Extended family members have dealt with various health issues. And God sat.

So many other things in our lives and in our world have gone and are going on. And God sits.

This week, I started reading the book "Gripped by the Greatness of God" by James MacDonald. It's by far the deepest book I've ever read. It's so deep I can only get through a few pages a day before my brain feels like it's going to explode. I'm not even halfway through the first chapter and I've learned so many profound things. Perhaps the most profound is this: God sits!

When I think of leaders, I typically think of people pacing the floor, demanding action, walking, traveling, shouting, showing frustration, delegating, etc. I don't think of a leader as someone who just sits in their chair. However, Isaiah 6:1 says that Isaiah saw the Lord SITTING in His throne. This got me to thinking (as it did the author of the book) about why and how God could just sit there. If being in charge of a city, county, country, or business means you can't just sit, how could the One in charge of the entire universe not be up out of His seat? 

The answer is simple: He doesn't have to get up! He knows He is in control. He knows all He has to do is move a finger, whisper a word, nod His head...and whatever He wants to be done will happen. So, are our problems and struggles insignificant to Him? Absolutely not! He just doesn't get out of His chair because He doesn't need to. With a flick of His mighty finger, He can take care of everything. Remember, there's more power in God's little finger than in all the strong men of the world put together. 

So, rest in Him. Know He is in complete control and will take care of everything. Will it fit into our time frame? Not necessarily. But it will be taken care of right when it needs to be. 

Just for the record, our three tires happened. We're waiting on the alternator. We've seen miracles happen in family members. God saw us through the winter and now paychecks are improving - plus our insurance premium actually went down. Our son-in-law-to-be got a full-time job today. Hubby and son still battle depression but I know God has them in the palm of His hand. 

So every morning when I wake up, I can now thank God that He is still sitting on His throne. As long as He is, what have I to fear?