God in Corduroy

There is a children’s book titled simply “Corduroy”.  My duaghter just finished reading it.  It’s a sweet story about a little teddy bear in a department store who just wants to be loved.  Much to his dismay, he learns that   he is missing a button on the shoulder strap of his green corduroy overalls.  So he goes looking for it.  He doesn’t find it but he does find the perfect little girl to bring him home and love him.

So here’s what I heard:

The bear is lonely, looking for love.  Among all the bears and other stuffed animals in the toy department, all he wants is someone to love him for who and what he is.  I have felt this way.  I have before felt alone in a crowded room.  But with God, there is never alone time…He never leaves.

The bear is imperfect.  When the girl first sees him, her mother thinks he isn’t new because he’s missing the button.  The girl only see’s the perfect bear.  Especially when pointed out, I focus on my flaws.  I don’t see beyond them.

The bear goes looking for the missing button on his own.  I’ve tried to fix myself on my own before and all I ever ended up with is a bigger mess.

The bear is found by the girl the next day, brought home, had his button replaced, and lived evermore in the comfort of the little girls room…a home of his own and someone to love him.

Isn’t that exactly what God has done for us?  He found us when we were looking for something else, fixed us up, loved us and gave us a home forever more with someone to love us unconditionally.

Cool book!

Imagine this…

Just heard this:

While staying at the White House, Winston Churchill stepped out of the bath wearing nothing more than his cigar and encountered the ghost of Abraham Lincoln standing just in front of him.  The Prime Minister reportedly looked at the figure, and said, “Mr. President, you seem to have me at a disadvantage.”  The ghost of Mr. Lincoln smiled, and then faded away.

Now, I’m not sure I believe this story, but it made me chuckle just imagining the site!

Tears

My heart is cracked.  I don’t want it to be broken again but there is a chance that could happen it has happened again.  On the outside, to everyone else, I know the right words, I appear strong and able.  In the quiet moments with myself I cry, I weep.  No one but God knows the agony in my heart.

Knowing that He knows the plan is not always enough.  I trust that He will protect me and be with me in my moments of need but still I am empty inside, longing for what I don’t have, sorrowful for what has been lost.  I rejoice in what I have.  I love what He has done for me, and who He has put in my life and yet….the tears fall into pools of self doubt and self pity; neither of which are from Him.

Somewhere there is a cry left unheard, a need left unmet.  I pray God will lead me to the cry, to the need.  That through Him and in His timing my cry too will be heard, and my need met.

Me then vs. Me now on abortion

I was thinking this morning about the fact that this is Sanctity of Life week.  Many many people, both pro life and pro choice feel passionately about the issue of abortion.  I have been on both sides of the fence, and I wondered how I would discuss the issue with myself from both sides.  Here’s my attempt.

Me then:
As far as I’m concerned, it’s MY body and I can do what ever I want with it.  If I choose to have an abortion, how can that have ANY impact on you?

Me now:
It may be your body but it’s not your life that you are ending.

Me then:
Well, it can’t survive without me anyway so it’s still part of my body.

Me now: 
It has a heart beat.  It has hair, fingernails and it’s very own DNA.

Me then:
Men should really stay out of this debate.  When they can go through a pregnancy with all the hormone changes, physical changes, labor pains and stretch marks, THEN they have a right to tell me what to do and what not to do with my body.

Me now:
Men have every right and responsibility to enter into this debate:
James 1:27
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Men were given this instruction; To look after the orphans and widows.  Those who cannot defend themselves….do not unborn fit into this category?

Me then:
I have the right to choose.  I was born with that right and NO one can take that away from me.  In this country, I have a right to make the choice, it’s part of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  You have no idea what it’s like for me.

Me now:
Yes, I do.  I had an abortion.  And I lost a pregnancy too.  I know the fear, the pain and the struggle of the crisis pregnancy.  I also know the pain that creeps up later when you don’t expect it.  And now I know how God feels about it, and how He feels about me.  I’m forgiven.  But I can’t just be silent now.  I have to, in some way, in some form, help someone else who has suffered what I have suffered, and in the process maybe help to prevent someone from suffering what I have suffered.

Pray not for the unborn, but for the undecided; that they will choose life for the unborn and for themselves.

Inauguration Observations

I watched the inauguration of Barak Obama yesterday with the rest of the world.  Here are a few of my own observations:

• I waited to see the sermon presented by T.D. Jakes at the church service in the morning, but was disappointed to see that it wasn’t televised.
• Most of the interviewers and people interviewed (on the network I watched) were a race other than white, or caucasian. (Maybe it’s about time?)
• The word “worship” was used very liberally to describe the practice of attending a church service on a weekly basis. (I found this most interesting.)
• The actual swearing in was a little botched up…love the human side of things!
• The raw emotion of many of the observers was very moving.
• Rick Warren’s prayer was very cool.

That’s about it.  The whole thing really stirred up conversation in our house last night.  Mary now cannot decide on a career path; a teacher, a policewoman, a fire fighter, president of the united states…so many choices.  I kissed her good night and said she could be anything she wanted to be.  She smiled and said “night, Mommy!”

That’s what it’s all about folks.  That’s what all the hype is about.  Being able to tell your kids, no matter what color, gender, or race they are that in THIS country, they can be anything they want….

Philippians Insight

Philippians 1:27-2:2 (New American Standard Bible)

27Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 28in no way alarmed by your opponents–which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God.  29For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

1Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.

I just read this and it really struck a chord with me today.  I’m not sure why.  Maybe it’s because there is so much suffering, and worry and anxiety throughout the world right now with regard to the economy.  Many of my friends find themselves in the same position; wondering where the next mortgage payment will come from, wondering how ends will be met with depleting incomes, and difficulty finding work.

What I take from this today is that regardless of what goes on outside, regardless of my worry, my anxiety, my fear, that to live in one accord with my brothers and sisters in Christ with one mind and one purpose is what He desires.  My strength, my provision, is in Him through them, through us.

My prayer today is:

Lord, thank you for this day and for this encouragement.  Fill me, Lord with Your spirit and strengthen me in mind, body and spirit giving me wisdom and insight as I need it.  Lord protect those that I love and care for, and speak Your wisdom to them as well bringing us closer as the One Body of Christ.  In Your Holy Name I pray. Amen.

On Domestication

Mary got a baking set for Christmas, and is making ‘cookies’ with a flour/water mixture (cupcakes are next!).  Yeah, it’s messy, but she’s having fun and keeping focused…very important skills to have!

Blown Away

Please head on over to Mandy’s site, or to Tam’s site and listen/watch the song Mandy wrote.  These ladies blow me away.  They are what I want to be…not just the music, but the women that they are.  Their friendship.  Their faith.  Their genuineness.

It’s real.  As real as it gets.

The best way to enjoy a cupcake:

Any questions?

Reminiscing

Growing up just outside of Chicago meant walking to school in all kinds of weather.  Our winters never produced much snow, contrary to popular belief, but it sure was cold!

We would be bundled up in sweaters, snow pants, jackets, hats, scarves and mittens.  And who could forget the bread bags over shoes to put the boots on!!  Then, as we ventured out into the cold, cheeks would freeze, noses and eyes would run and fingers and toes quickly felt as if they would break off like icicles.

We didn’t live far from the schools, which meant we had to walk to school.  And we walked home–for lunch– and back again.  There were days it felt like torture.  Especially in the morning.  But, we survived.  And we didn’t get sick because of it, and we didn’t get frost bite, and we didn’t really suffer.

This morning, I sent my little girl out in sweater, snow pants, jacket, hat, scarf and mittens.  Of course the days of bread bags and over shoe boots are gone, but on went the boots and backpack and off she went.  All that was visable were her bright blue eyes.  She got just down the walk way in front of the house, turned around and asked if she could wait in the neighbors car because she was so cold!!  (The bus stop is literally right in front of our house!)  I said no.  Am I a bad mom?