Geography can "bee" fun!

Today I was awakened by my second-born who squealed, "Today's the Geography Bee!"

National Geographic hosts a "Geography Bee" that is a nation-wide thing. A homeschool group to which I belong was holding a division of the bee. Whoever wins the local bee's compete against each other in regionals, then it goes to state, then to nationals.

This was my son's first year doing this, so I wasn't expecting the sun, moon, and stars; I only wanted him to come away with the knowledge that he tried his best.

It was funny to hear in the beginning of the "Bee" when the children found out they got an answer right: "YEAH!" "WOO-HOO!" As the bee progressed to harder material, the former cheers turned to "Oh, man!" And, my poor son's face was turning redder and redder, which is what happens when he gets frustrated.

He made it to the semi-finals, where the questions dealt with nothing that he's gone over, yet. From where I was sitting, I saw the tears starting to fill his eyes. I noticed one thing, though; he did not give up trying to answer the questions, even though he didn't have the answers.

I walked over and kissed the back of his head. His eyes were on the prize of the Wal-Mart gift card offered to the first, second, and third place winners, but he realized that dream was about to be shattered as they announced who would go on to the finals.

He smiled, leaned into me and shed some tears. I had him look me square into my eyes, and I told him, "Honey, I want to say that I've never been prouder of you than I am right this moment. You came into this, you gave it your best, and you never gave up. In this life, you'll not always get first prize, but if you try your best, then you've succeeded."

He smiled at me, gave me a kiss on my cheek, then gave me a huge hug. This was one of the best days of our lives together.

Coming Out

In this time when Proposition 8 made it so that homosexuals cannot be married and all of these celebs are coming out, as well as to show and vent their displeasure at the passage to ban gay marriages, I felt the need to come out myself and say the following: I'm STRAIGHT and PROUD of it!

I just wish to ask the Christian community -- just when did it become taboo to stand up for Christ? When did we start acting in an apologetic fashion for speaking the truth found only in the Word?

You know, when I was younger, I could have really cared less if I were popular or not. I dressed the way I felt comfortable, and even though it hurt to be made fun of, I took solace in knowing who I was.

As I've been a pastor's wife, I've noticed that I've started caring more and more and more about what other people think. After all, if the children aren't angels, or if I don't act like the "perfect" preacher's wife, then someone may leave the church, and it'll be all my fault! In my home school group, I was starting to worry about every little thing that someone was saying, because after all, they may leave the group.

I think we as Christians need to stop getting offended at every little thing, and start binding together to fight the big things! When are we going to stand up together and cry out for the unborn? When are we as Christians going to stand up together and fight for families the way that God ordained them? When are we as Christians going to stand up together and fight for the cause of Christ -- period?

God is coming under attack as never before in my recollection. Now I know, God can stand up quite well for Himself. But, Jesus said that if we confess and believe in Him, then He will confess us before the Father. There are signs on buses in Washington, DC, asking, "Why believe in a god -- just be good for goodness' sake." Why aren't people realizing that goodness only comes from GOD, HIMSELF?

You know, if the world turns their back on me, I don't really give a flying fig leaf. I'm calling on the Christian community to take a stand. No more sitting on that proverbial fence. We NEED to somehow get involved, and stand up - yes, stand up for Jesus! We need to come out of our closets of fear, shame, guilt, shyness, and step out to fight for the only One worth living for: our Lord, Jesus Christ.

There's No Place Like Home

Do you remember when Dorothy clicked her heels three times and repeated "There's no place like home" in "The Wizard of Oz" movie (actually, it only happened in the movie and not the book by L. Frank Baum -- there were SO many differences between the movie and the book, such as Dorothy's slippers were silver in the book, and ruby in the movie, but then I'm digressing)? That seemed to be the theme this week around our house.

My husband decided to trim some of the trees bordering our property so that they don't knock down our fence. They're evergreen trees, so as the children and I were dragging them away from my hubby, I got the brilliant idea that I'd have to make a wreath out of the evergreen branches. When I was younger, my mother, brothers, sister and I would walk into the woods on a Sunday -- the day that no hunting was allowed -- and collect branches for our wreaths and trimming for outside. We'd form wire hangers into circles, wrap newspaper around the wire, and then wrap the paper with yarn in which we'd insert the pieces of greenery, until the beautiful shape of a wreath would emerge. Every year Mom would say, "I'll never make wreaths again" -- and the next year we would do the same thing over again the next year.

Well, after littering the floor with evergreen and breaking out, I decided that may this would be my last year of making wreaths with the "real deal."

Then, the day after making the wreath, I went outside by myself. I was praying and surveying the lone maple tree out back, which lost the majority of its leaves, when I noticed the rake sitting nearby. Raking the leaves, a nice pile began to form. The interest of the children was formed and then overflowed outside to see what their mother was up to.

The children wished to jump straight-away into the leaves; I had another idea. I moved the pile, and formed two piles: one was situated at the bottom of the slide, while the other, larger pile formed the perfect landing spot for anyone who decided to jump from the swing. The children were delighted and had the time of their lives. I got out the ever-present camera and recorded the time they were spending in the leaves. Then, I smelled a unforgettable aroma; the smell of burning leaves. A neighbor was burning theirs, but it perfectly blended to remind me of days gone by, when I jumped in huge piles of leaves with my own siblings. There's no place like home.

It's Not about Me

There's a book that has been sitting on my bathroom reading shelf, unopened, for a time. I was going to open it, but never truly did. To everything, however, there is a season. I needed something to read, and saw, "The Purpose Driven Life" by Pastor Rick Warren. So, I'm embarking upon a forty-day journey.

I got a notebook and my Bible and started reading. I liked the first day's reading; in a nutshell, this is what sums up what I've got to grasp and get a hold of: it's NOT about me -- BUT, it's ALL about God.

In the first day's reading, Rick Warren was talking about the Russian novelist, Andrei Bitov. Growing up in a communist country, Bitov never really gave God any thought -- until he became saddened with a sadness so deep it was incomprehensible while riding the subway. One phrase embedded itself in Bitov's mind: Without God life makes no sense. He emerged from the subway train, walked up the steps and into the light of day, as well as the true light of God's perfect will.

God is absolutely amazing!

-------------------------------

We've voted a president into office as a nation. Now, we are called as Christians to pray for our leaders and those in authority over us -- whether we agree with their political views or not. If you are a Christian, then I urge you -- I repeat -- I URGE you to pray that God turns the hearts of those in office to Him, in the name of Jesus, from your town mayors, to the Senate and members of Congress, to the President, to the Supreme Court. Instead of complaining, we need to pray for God's Divine Intervention.

I am reminded by the Word of God where the people said they wanted a change -- they didn't want the judges ruling over them, but rather a king. And God turned them over to their desires -- the people suffered for their choice, but God gives us all this wonderful gift called free will. He has given us all this wonderful gift called free will, and if we as a nation continually turn our backs on Him, then He will give us exactly what we asked for, as can be illustrated in Romans 1:20-32 (nkj):

20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man--and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

May we fervently pray for our country and for the Lord's touch on this generation!

Lessons from the Lord

I want to turn a page. The major thing I've been wondering is the perpetual "why?" See, when I was younger, we were dirt poor -- heck, the soil was richer than us! We were always in danger of losing our home. One winter, my father chopped every other step of the cellar just to get us some wood to burn in our little wood burner. Most people I grew up with didn't know this, nor the many other things about our home whilst growing up. We had to keep everything a secret. But, there was ONE THING that I learned in all of the hardships we endured while growing up: NEVER GIVE UP.

That's a valuable lesson to learn.

I asked God while showering, WHY did this guy from our church commit suicide? My brain cannot comprehend nor understand it. There are SO many places in the Bible where God says He will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory, that He will forgive us of ALL our transgressions... that He will be our shield and our buckler. His Word is full of SO many promises -- and He is not a man that He should lie.

Either you believe God's Word -- in its entirety -- or you don't.

The Lord let me hear in my mind the voice of Corrie Ten Boom (she appeared at the end of the movie, "The Hiding Place"): "There is no pit so deep, that God is not deeper still."

So I asked of the Lord, "Then why wasn't Jesus in the pit with this fellow?"

"I was," I felt in my spirit, "he just didn't believe I was there."

Then the Lord brought to my mind what happened the day after I discovered this gentleman: I was struck with panic attack upon panic attack. Every fear imaginable hit me, in wave upon wave. I even went to a counselor, and that didn't seem to help. That night, I couldn't go to church; I truly did not know if I could go back again. I stayed home, and was attacked voraciously by the enemy. I called out to God for help, because I honestly felt as though I myself would die from the fear -- or to be taken somewhere like a hospital to help me.

Then, I got the umption to go to Neil Anderson's site -- Freedom in Christ, ministries. I printed out "Who I am in Christ" and looked up the verses in the Bible every verse listed. Then, when I felt the enemy attack again like a flood before I fell asleep, I cried out to the Lord: "Lord, I cannot stand another night like the one before. I need to rest in You. Please let me take Your yoke upon me, and please protect me from the enemy. I need You."

Suddenly, I felt so tired, and I went to bed. I may sound crazy, but that night, I could actually feel and hear the enemy attacking me, like fiery arrows to the head with words of hate, fear and promises of destruction. But in the same respect, I could actually feel and hear a contrasting voice -- one that quoted the Bible and protected me, like a force field-type helmet around my head. Then I heard singing -- the most beautiful singing one could ever imagine. The next day I read an e-mail that I get with encouragement for today, and this was the verse:

The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." -- Zephaniah 3:17

Back to the shower... after these things were brought to my mind, the Lord really revealed to me what I needed to know about "why." When someone is up against the worst temptations, He DOES give a way of escape. That takes faith in His word. Those who call upon His name WILL be saved... it only takes faith the size of a mustard seed -- and He'll provide the rest.

Part of the solution?

Sometimes I wish I could be a different "me". I know that sounds silly. On the outside, I sometimes seem vivacious, yet sometimes, inwardly, I'd rather be hiding in a corner. I don't really dislike myself, sometimes I wish that I could have the perfect household, where everyone gets along 100% of the time, and where we don't have to worry about this or that. But, if that were the case, then we'd be living in a perpetual episode of "Leave it to Beaver." Then again, not everything went 100 % smoothly on "Leave it to Beaver."

In the Word, it says that we are to rejoice when people revile us, but I'll admit -- that's the last thing I want to do when things get said. I usually want to go hide in a corner and not come out. Sometimes, I'd prefer to stay in my own little corner of the world, where I can't be hurt by people who I've reached out to in love.

We were watching "Nim's Island" tonight as a family -- which was a very good thing. While my mind soared with Nim as she ran through the jungle and swam in the ocean, and did the adventurous things she did, I found that I understood Alex's character. As a person deals with the world, and becomes hurt by it, it's easier to care from a distance, wishing to live out adventures in your imagination.

But the world is out there -- and the Lord called us to be a light IN this world, while not being OF this world. I often wonder if I'm truly making a difference. I want to make a difference in the lives of those I come in contact with.

A history teacher of mine -- Mr. Sunburg -- said something very profound when I was in high school, and I never forgot it. He said, "If you're not part of the solution, then you're part of the problem."

Since then, I've tried to live up to that. When I see a need, I try my best to step up to the plate, because if I don't do anything to help a situation, then I believe, based upon what Mr. Sunberg said, then I'm part of the problem as to why something positive does not come to pass.

It's something I've wrestled with. Some things, I've discovered, are not in my capacity to fix -- some things are out of my grasp of comprehension. I'm discovering that day by day, I've got to rely upon one person only -- and it's not myself. I have to trust that God is in every single day -- no matter if it's good or bad -- and I have to resign myself to the knowledge that people are not God's robots -- they have been equipped with that nice little ditty called "free will."

It's free will for someone to yell at a person who cuts them off at an intersection. It's free will to look at shows or listen to music that is not edifying. It's free will to spread gossip about someone else. It's free will to choose to argue back with a parent who exercises their free will to loudly complain about how much time you spend in the bathroom. I cannot control people -- I don't have that ability. I can exercise my free will to pray for my friends and enemies. So, if I pray and ask for guidance, and try to interact in a loving manner to others around me, and trust in the Lord with all of my being, then I AM being part of the solution.

Time to allow Jesus to help me to be the hero of my own story.

All I Want....

When I was younger, I remember thinking my mother was crazy. Every Mother's Day, Birthday, Christmas, Easter... you know, any major event where any thoughts of gifts are concerned, my mother would announce, "I don't want you to spend any money on me for any gifts. Now, I don't want to go away without you kids. ALL I WANT is to have a nice, peaceful day with NO FIGHTING. That's all."

"What?! Who in their right mind WOULDN'T want presents?!"

We'd buy what we could (chocolate covered cherries, affordable-for-children perfume) and fight anyway.

Christmas is coming. In this time of economic insecurity, I told the children what I've been telling them anytime there's any major even where there's the possibility of presents being presented to me: "I don't want you children to go out and buy anything for me. And I don't want to go away or anything -- I want to be with you children -- I just DON'T want ANY FIGHTING."

I heard my children talking to each other a little while after I made my announcement: "What is the MATTER with Mom? Who in their right mind WOULDN'T want PRESENTS?"

They'll find out when they're older... Mom wasn't so crazy after all!

------------------------------------------------------------------

We went away for a few days. It was good to be in the mountains and walk along trails which led to trickleing streams. I actually got a few good photos of the children. We needed to ask God for His direction. I cried alot of tears, sighed alot of appreciative sighs at the sights, sounds and smells of the woods, and I've prayed alot of prayers and and read alot of His Word. In this seeking of God's direction, I'm trying to learn that it's not MY will, but HIS will be done. God directed me to Timothy quite a bit. I've been dealing with hurt, confusion, anger, fear -- and I know that deep down, God is in the midst of everything. I'm learning that to have a testimony, one has to go through a test. I ask for God to guide me daily as I rest in Jesus. May He guide YOU, whoever may be reading this.

All I want is to be the best follower of Christ that I can be, and prayerfully do my best by the people who intersect their lives with mine.