Alive, Crazy and Thankful 4.22.14

Last week was Holy week, beginning with Palm Sunday and ending with what many call Easter Sunday.  I was fortunate to attend church services this past week in three different locations, yet all about Jesus.  I shared some of my thoughts about worshiping in a variety of settings with some of my family while we were eating together.  How wonderful that as "the church", a body of believers, we can gather in many places - some small, some big, some beautiful, some not, some with loud praise music, some with softer hymns, some with caffeinated pastors, some with decaf pastors, sometimes standing up, sometimes sitting down.  Yet what unites us is Jesus.  His life, His death, His resurrection.  And what all of that means for each of us as children of God.

Easter Sunday was clearly defined by the pastor I listened to this year as Resurrection Sunday.  The pastor is a dynamic guy who makes "the text" come alive.  He reminded us that the reason we celebrate Easter is because of Jesus' resurrection from the dead.  He shared that sometimes people complain about their spiritual life being boring.  Wake up believers!  The power that raised Jesus from the dead is alive in us.  If we are truly living a regenerate life, our lives will not be boring.

The pastor said "God's dreams for me are straight up crazy".  This may mean that I'm not comfortable.  It may mean I take big risks.  It may mean I'm vulnerable and I may get hurt.  It may mean that I risk everything for a relationship, knowing that the other person has no idea how to be a friend or to love.  It may mean other people think I'm crazy.  But it's ok.  I'm surrendering the old me, for a new me - one completely crazy for the One who died for me.  And He did it because of LOVE.    I want to live alive for love, Jesus.  I don't want to settle for boring.  I'm good with crazy.  I desire to see with His eyes, hear with His ears, be His hands and feet in this world and have a heart and mind like Him.

Colossians 3:1-4 The Message (MSG)

3 ^1-2 So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective.

^3-4 Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you’ll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.

Continuing my gratitude list, here are 10 more things I'm thankful for:

11.   God's dreams for me are bigger and crazier than any I can imagine for myself

12.   A wonderful Easter weekend with family

13.   My older son's joy over mastering a pogo stick

14.   My dog's delight in having his head and ears rubbed and wagging his tail in response

15.   Worshiping in new and different places

16.   Reconnecting with an old friend over a yummy lunch

17.   Knowing that hard things are good

18.   The hum of my dryer drying my family's clothes

19.   Spring flowers blooming in their bright colors

20.   Living this new resurrection life with Christ!

Warrior Sisters, Say That Again -- I'm thankful that the power that raised Jesus from the dead is alive in us.  May we live in love and in His resurrection!

Weekend Gratitude 4-13-14

Thank God no matter what happens

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (The Message)

I like to be thankful, at all times.  Sometimes are harder than others.  Yesterday we were zooming off to the second soccer field for the day and I had carefully placed my full cup of smoothie on my lap so I could put on my sunglasses.  A car pulled out in front of my husband and he had to brake hard and quick to avoid a collision.  My smoothie cup continued moving forward as law of motion would have it and it ended up on the seat and all over the bag full of snacks for all the little soccer players.  Ugh!  I had a partial container of wet wipes in the car and my husband pulled into a gas station parking lot for me to grab some more paper towels.  I spent the rest of the drive doing my best to clean up the mess and wipe off the snacks and drinks so they wouldn't be so sticky.  Before we arrived at the soccer field, we were all singing random versions of a banana song and laughing.  It was good.

"God is good... at all times.  And at all times...God is good."  This is a line heard many times in the movie God's Not Dead which we recently went to see.  There were some really tough, emotional things that happened to characters in the movie and I won't spoil the movie for you by telling you all of them (although I do encourage you to go see it!).  There are tough things that happen to each of us in life.  I've lived through many periods of brokenness, sadness, frustration, fear and doubt.  Sometimes it takes longer, but I'm always able to look back and be thankful.  A big tough thing for me was living through breast cancer surgeries and treatments in my late 20's.  I'm thankful for all the blessings God placed in my life during that journey, thankful that I'm still alive and that I celebrated 40 years of life a few months ago.  I think life continues to get better although still no guarantees about easy.

As I reflect on my day yesterday and the smoothie mess, I'm thankful for many things:

1. I woke up early in my home and had the freedom to sit and read my Bible
2. The sun was shining and the birds were chirping
3. I'm married to a wonderful man and have 2 healthy children
4. It was sunny and not cold and not raining for our first day of spring soccer! (unusual in north Idaho)
5. I have plenty of food in my home to feed my family 
6. My husband hit the brakes and I got a smoothie mess instead of all of us having a car accident
7. We still made it to soccer on time and the snacks and drinks were all wiped up
8. We were able to sing and be silly in the midst of the little mess
9. We were together as a family in our car that we are blessed to drive
10. Oh, did I mention that I'm thankful that God is good... at all times!  And at all times... God is good!

I've been paying a lot of attention to song lyrics lately and may continue to add links to my posts with songs that I really like.  Francesca Battistelli has a great song that has come to mind many times lately when I have felt frustrated over little things - and even when I've felt big emotions over bigger things.

It is called This Is The Stuff  

One line says: "in the middle of my little mess, I forget how big I'm blessed"

Whether it is battling breast cancer or wiping up sticky smoothie messes on our way to soccer games, I don't want to ever forget how big I'm blessed!  I am going to follow another blogging friend who writes weekly gratitude posts so I can continue to notice and share the ways in my life that I am thankful and where I see God at work.  Check back to see what I share and please share a comment about what you are thankful for in your life!  I'd love to hear and praise God with you - for the little things and the big things too.

Warrior Sister Saints, Say that Again -- God is good... at all times.   And at all times... God is GOOD!

Hiking to the Road

For part of spring break, I was fortunate to get away to my family’s cabin on the river.  Sometimes when we go, there are many people with us.  It’s always fun and relaxing.  This time, my husband and I were able to have some time by ourselves and then our children and some of their grandparents came.

One of our favorite things to do is hike and the hillsides of the river canyon provide great opportunities for us to do this.  As my husband and I went on a long hike for several hours, I had time to think about a lot of things and notice the beauty of the creation around me.   There were wildflowers blooming, an eagle soaring way above us, the sound of the river rapids below, birds chirping, clouds changing formations and as we hiked, we could look ahead or behind and the views changed.  I knew we were hiking up to a road.  But it was a road I couldn’t see at all from where we began our hike.

I started thinking about all the fun adventures my husband and I have had high in the mountains.  And also how I sometimes doubt my ability to do what my husband thinks I can, whether it is biking up a steep hill, skiing down an ungroomed powdery slope, or hiking to the top of some peak that I can’t even see.  I trust my husband to not lead me where I am not capable of going.  I know he loves me and won’t leave me.   I know somehow we always have fun.  I sometimes experience a wide range of emotions, including doubt, frustration, and fear.  And I always experience peace, joy and love.

Our hike this time was no different.   Even though we had hiked to the road before, I wasn’t sure if we had enough time before we went down river to pick up our kids.  We took a bit of a different route and it was challenging.  When I started to get tired, we would take a break and drink some water and enjoy looking around.  And my husband would provide encouragement.  I began reflecting on how much I look to my husband to lead in certain circumstances and especially when we hike.  We almost always take a selfie picture at the top of our hikes and lift our hands in praise of our God and His creation. 

As I noticed the wildflowers and the birds and just the sheer beauty of the mountains and valleys, various scripture was coming to mind as well as the song “Help Me Find It” by the Sidewalk Prophets.  I have often prayed the lyrics of that song.  I regularly thank God that He gave me the gift of my husband and I felt especially thankful during our hike.  I trust him and the hiking journey reminded me of trusting God to lead me to the road I should walk.  I know He will help me find it.  I know when I am fearful or doubting, God gives me grace and faith.  I know He provides encouragement through others and His word.  I know He loves me even more than my husband and promises to never leave me nor forsake me.

I also know that sometimes I just need to be still and God gives me peace.  Our time at the cabin was very restful and peaceful.  I’m thankful for so many blessings in my life and right now, I’m particularly thankful for the nice time I had on the river and in the mountains with my family and God.  Thank you Jesus!

Warrior Sister Saints, Say that Again – if there is something we need, we can rely on our trusting, faithful God to help us find it!  He will have His way in our lives!

Here is a link to the song Help Me Find It by Sidewalk Prophets

and some of the lyrics are below:

I will trust in You, You've never failed before

I will trust in You

If there’s a road I should walk,

Help me find it

If I need to be still, 

Give me peace for the moment

Whatever your will, whatever your will, 

Can You help me find it?  Can You help me find it?