So GREATful

We went to a party last night.  It is an annual party held at the house of some friends of ours.  They are wonderful hosts and downright amazing people.

Every year, we do one of those "pirate" gift exchanges.  Every year, there is at least one person who is visibly disappointed at the gift they receive.  This year, it was Zech, a sweet preteen.  Zech chose one of our gifts, which included a new Bible, devotional, and creme brulee almonds :)  The hope was that between the three gifts, there would be enough to chew on in 2012.

To say he was underwhelmed would be an understatement.  He pouted and asked every person after him to "steal" his gift.  Judah had done something similar years ago and it was painful to watch.

Sometimes in life, we grow uncomfortable, unthankful, and/or underwhelmed for and by the gifts we are given.  When we look at the gifts that others have been given, our hearts can grow bitter, disappointed, and weary.

Someone eventually "stole" Zech's gift, allowing him to open another gift.  The "stealer" was thrilled with the new Bible set. 

The Apostle Paul "learned to be content in all circumstances" (Philippians 4:11).  That is another way of saying, "he learned to be thankful for the gift he had been given (or that he chose)."

I need to work on contentment in 2012.  I need to make an even more concerted effort to thank God for all the things in my life, even those I find frustrating.

Have a great weekend and know I am thankful for you.

Amberly

Turn on the Light I love the new battery operated candles. They look real. They appear to give light. To the casual observer, it has the characteristics of reality, but it is just a facade; the light source is not real. Jesus called His followers to be "the light of the world" in Matthew 5. Not look, not appear, but BE... Too many people pretend to follow Him. They appear sincere, they look good. But too many rely on their own light source (themselves) and eventually, the facade is discovered. The solution? Plug into the TRUE light, Jesus Christ. Shine for Him, because of Him, and be fueled only by Him. Then the call in Matthew 5 to "let your light shine" is easier than changing the batteries on those candles. Shine on! Amberly

Grin and Prayer It


My list of favorite activities does not include flossing my teeth.  It is often uncomfortable and frankly, gross.  I LOVE eating, but seeing that same food in small particles hours later plucked from my choppers is disconcerting.


But flossing is important.  It is an essential part of dental health and has links to heart health as well.


I wish I could say that I floss after every meal.  I don't.  Most of the time, I just "go through the motions", flossing because I know it is good for me.


When am I REALLY faithful to floss?  When there is a pending dental appointment.  When I know that some dental assistant is going to be in my mouth with a magnifying glass and a scrutinizing eye.  When I am afraid of disappointing my dentist.


My prayer life is similar.  Sometimes, I just "go through the motions" knowing that it is good for me.  I know prayer is vital to my growth and relationship to God.  Yet, sometimes, I just take enough time to get rid of the spiritual debris and no more.


The beautiful thing about the grace of God is that although I am not always faithful, He always is.  And just like flossing, prayer is good for my heart as well, even if my heart isn't always in it.


Amberly

Mission Possible We had a "state of the church" address yesterday. Our pastor reviewed the church's mission and then proceeded to ask how we thought we were doing. It was a good dialogue, but a risk indeed. It sparked my thinking about my own mission. Sometimes, I think my mission is limited to signing permission slips, keeping coffee bean harvesters busy, and making sure everyone in the family has clean underwear. But I know it is greater than that. It is greater than going to the gym, plucking chin hairs, teaching the benefits of a napkin at the dinner table, grocery shopping, grading papers, and packing lunches. It is meaningful, it is purposeful, it is joyful, it is eternal. And although it is greater than my previous list, it involves those things as well. Ephesians 2:10 reminds me: "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." On top of all my personal "TO DO" list items, I have a "TO DO" list from Heaven as well! "To do" good works. Not list items I create, but those that God has prepared for me (and me for!) Have you thought about YOUR mission lately? Pray about what God has prepared for you. He never promised glamour (see chin hair comment above :), but He did promise preparation. And His message will never self-destruct... Blessings on your mission! Amberly

Good morning.  

Well, just "morning" actually.  I dragged myself out of bed this morning to work out.  Is it sad that it is not the workout but the actual GETTING out of bed that is the most strenuous part?  The cold air outside the warm comforter...the shock of disconnection of one's head off the deep and delightful pillow...the feeling of dismay watching my spouse continue to enjoy these comforts whilst I begrudgingly throw on clothes.  Ugh.

I once heard it said: "I'd like mornings better if they started later".

I could not have said it better myself...mostly, because I am still half asleep two hours later.

Enjoy your day.  The toughest part, leaving the bed, is behind you.  Anything else that life throws at you pales in comparison to the battle that broiled when your alarm went off this morning.  You've got this...

And if you don't, remember that there is a bed waiting to welcome you with open sheets when you get home tonight...

Sleep sweet!  Amberly

CREAM of the CROP

I love coffee.  Love.  Actually, love isn't a strong enough word.  I ADORE it.  Well, actually I ADORE coffee with creamer.  I would not drink coffee without it.  I am kind of a baby when it comes to java.  Creamer not only adds flavored deliciousness to the cup, it also cools it down.  My mom used to say that certain foods would "grow hairs on your chest" (I am guessing this is highly effective with boys), but with coffee, I actually believe it.  Eeek.  Bitter.  

Some people feel that way about the Bible.  They find it difficult to digest without sugary stories or anecdotes to "cool it down".    As a humorist, I LOVE telling stories on myself and pray that those stories point others to the God of the Universe who loves them with reckless abandon.  My prayer is that I would not water down the Gospel nor attempt to make it more palatable by avoiding speaking the truth.

Instead, my hope is that my words would be sweet.  A prayer that once hung on my refrigerator reminded me: "Lord, make my words sweet, for tomorrow I may have them to eat."

In my lifetime, I have eaten more words that I have Oreos.   One of my resolutions is to have sweeter and fewer words in 2012.

Proverbs 16:24 reminds us that "Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."

The next time you put anything in your coffee, remember to pray for me.  I will do the same for you!

Blessings!  Amberly

Happy New Year!

If you are like me, you have already broken at least one of your resolutions.  Many people vow to get up early and back to the gym when January one hits.

I REALLY hate getting up early to go to the gym.

It’s difficult to don tight fitting gym clothes (or ones so baggy a human form is unrecognizable underneath).  It is downright treacherous to watch other people in seemingly perfect shape lifting, running, and biking without breaking a sweat.  It is brutal to jump in the car in the wee hours due to the cold, shivering and chattering, only to have one’s car finally heat up just in time to arrive at the gym.  But the worse part for me is the waking up early.  I am not a morning person.  Not now.  Not ever.

Somehow, though, Tuesdays and Thursdays are not so bad.  I have an accountability partner on those days.  She is a lady I met at the gym whilst training for my 60 mile walk.  She is a runner.  She is blonde.  She is beautiful.  And frankly, at 5:30 in the morning, she is just what the Doctor ordered.

We talk about child rearing, Christianity, housework, good books, recipes, past failures, and present challenges.  We also discuss that, on many days, we would not have made it to the gym without the pressure of knowing the other would be there.

In the season of resolutions, I challenge you to find someone who might walk alongside you in your effort to improve yourself.  Find someone who wants to grow in the same area.  Meet one another there and hold one another accountable.  It is not always comfortable (it rarely is), but it is an easier journey with a friend.

Walk and roll!

Amberly