Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.  Philippians 4:8-9 (The Message)

I woke up this morning with Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream” stuck in my head.  I truly hate that song.  I find it to be disgusting and objectifying and not at all in line with any principal that I have or value.  However, it has a catchy melody.  And my brain tends to pick up catchy melodies.  Needless to say, I was irritated.

I often wake up with songs running through my head.  Usually it’s a hymn or a contemporary Christian song.  I’ve always seen it as God’s little wake-up gift.  So, the fact that it was Katy Perry and not Fanny Crosby was a wake-up call to the fact that I have not been completely “on-track” with my spiritual disciplines.  My head has been in all sorts of places–thoughts pinging around in neurospace like my brain is some giant pinball machine.  I haven’t taken the time to center myself in God’s Word, and my subconscious song-selection this morning was a stark illustration of that for me.

And so, I grabbed my Bible this morning, in the midst of making coffee and breakfast and helping my first grader decide what to wear on Dress Like a Superhero Day since Captain Underpants was not exactly on the approved outfit list.  I took a moment (really, just a moment) to tune out the ample amount of noise around me and to bury my head (soul and heart) into the Word.  It’s amazing to me how just the act of opening my Bible can bring me so much peace.  The second my hand brushes over the soft, thin, slightly indented paper that makes the most wonderful crinkly noise when I flip the pages, a mental memory is triggered and I find myself falling into the center of my being.  It doesn’t matter that I was reading about God’s judgements against the entire Arabian peninsula in the book of Isaiah.  I was there, in God’s Word, centered in His Spirit.  I didn’t need the words today, I just needed the Presence.

I needed to remember my place of being.  I needed to remember that when I find my place in the center of God’s presence, then the rest of the pieces of my day fall in their appropriate spheres around that center.

I think our lives are more circular than linear.  God is the core, the center, from which bands or rings fan out, all held together and in perfect place by Him.  And so, when I’m out running around through the outer rim and not sitting in the center with God, things tend to seem a bit out of whack.  Priorities shift.  Problems seem bigger.  Understanding seems elusive.  And I get trapped in my head.

There is such an inexplicable freedom that comes from time spent in God’s Word.  And it doesn’t have to be a full-blown, time consuming, intensified Bible study curriculum.  It’s simply us, stilling ourselves right where we are to sit a few moments before the throne of our Creator.  It’s us, warts and all, acknowledging that we can’t keep it all together, but that we can fully trust the One who does.

After I spent a few minutes hovering over the pages of Scripture, my song track changed.  I’m now humming Hawk Nelson’s, “Words” as I bounce around our elementary school preparing for parent/teacher conferences.  And I think, how much more appropriate and meaningful to my day this song is than the one I started with.  God is so very good.

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

I was drawn to my husband the first time I saw him.  Really, it’s the truth.  I don’t know what it was, but I remember meeting him my first few days at seminary and thinking, “There’s a guy I want to get to know better.”  I was 26 years old when I met Chris and had never had a real “boyfriend”.  Trust me, it wasn’t for lack of trying!!  But I had finally come to the conclusion that God was protecting my heart for someone special and when I first saw Chris my heart was drawn his way.

Of course, he had no clue.  I suppose a “normal” girl would have actually talked to him and initiated some sort of friendly relationship.  I, being a big chicken, chose the more subtle approach of “friendly stalking.”  Our apartment complex was in the shape of a horseshoe, with Chris’ apartment directly across the lawn from mine.  He always had his shades open, so I used my powers of observation and quickly learned his schedule.  I enlisted the help of friends who had classes with him to strike up conversations and get to know him better on my behalf.  I would walk those friends to and from classes to “bump into him”.  I threw parties and invited him over but could never work up the nerve to actually talk to him.  This went on for several months.  Finally, somehow, we started talking.  A week before Valentine’s Day we decided to go see a movie together.  We followed the movie with some drinks and he walked me back to the entrance of my building before sprinting off to the warmth of his own apartment.  The next week, Valentine’s Day, we made plans to go to an old movie theater in Wrigleyville to watch Casablanca with another couple.  A double-date.  Except, only 1/2 of the other couple made it to the show.  Our double date had turned into a girls night out.  And thus began the three month long saga of “Are we actually dating, or are we just friends?”

Finally, in May, after three months of hanging out and being good buds, Chris took the initiative and threw his arm around me during a movie.  From that moment on, we were a couple.  Seven months later, on Christmas Eve, Chris proposed.  Eight months after that we were married.  It’s been seven years since we said “I do”.  We have moved three times and brought two rowdy boys into this world.  Our marriage, as any other, has had its share of ups and downs.  But even in the down moments, I think about the way my heart was drawn to Chris that day nine years ago and I know that God was saving my heart for him.  And I thank God for that gift every day.

Blessings and Peace,
Sara

Most weeks, I feel emptier at the end than I did at the beginning.  If ever I need reminders of God’s love, it’s at the end of the week when my alarm seems like a torture device and I really just want to show movies all day!!

Therefore, I’m re-posting a blog I wrote in 2011 after attending a Priscilla Shirer simulcast. I was inspired by Priscilla to write down some Spiritual affirmations of God’s love.  And I have to say, reading them this morning has lifted my soul on this dreary and cool morning. I pray that they do the same for you.

If you feel like it, I’d love to hear some affirmations of you own.

1. I am created in the image of God and God said I am good. (Genesis 1:27)

2. There is no place I can go where God will not find me; no circumstance in life where I will not know his love. (Psalm 139:7-12, Romans 8:28)

3. God has a plan for my life that is bigger and better than anything I could imagine. (Jeremiah 29:11)

4. I will not be afraid of the trials of this life because God, my Savior, will not let me go. (Isaiah 43:1-3)

5. I can do anything that God has called me to do. (Philippians 4:13)

6. I will not worry about tomorrow, for God will provide all my needs.  I only need to rely on him. (Matthew 6:25-34)

7. God has freed me to love others.  I will love others with the outpouring of love God has shown me. (1 John 4:7)

8. I will keep God’s word in my heart and teach it to my children. (Deuteronomy:4-6)

9. Even though I have days where this life will make me cry, God will bring joy to my heart. (Psalm 30:5)

10. I have been redeemed by Christ and am a new creation in him. (2nd Corinthians 5:17)

Blessings and Peace,
Sara

 Come now, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a city and spend a year there and carry on our business and make money.  Yet you do not know [the least thing] about what may happen tomorrow. What is the nature of your life? You are [really] but a wisp of vapor (a puff of smoke, a mist) that is visible for a little while and then disappears [into thin air]. You ought instead to say, If the Lord is willing, we shall live and we shall do this or that [thing].  But as it is, you boast [falsely] in your presumption and your self-conceit. All such boasting is wrong.

James 4:13-16 Amplified Bible

“She’s been bumped from the schedule,” my mother said over the breakfast table.  It was 9:30 A.M. on a Friday morning.  Our family had gathered to support my sister and brother-in-law as their 3 year old daughter underwent closed heart surgery to correct a rare genetic defect. We had all been stressing over this upcoming surgery for the past several months and the day was finally here.  So when my mother said, “She’s been bumped from the schedule,” there was a collective sigh of frustration.  We just wanted it to be over.  We wanted to get it done and go back to life as normal.  No more fear and anxiety.  No more sleepless nights and stress eating or not eating.  No more short tempers.  No more isolation for my niece and nephew as my sister tried to keep all germs away before the big day.  No more waiting.

Our niece’s upcoming surgery had dominated all of our lives since summer.  We made plans and schedules.  We had packed bags and given gifts and stocked up on food and had a schedule of people in place to look after our 19 month old nephew. We were prepared.  And in a moment, it all changed.

And in that moment where it all changed, I couldn’t help but hear God say, “Why do you always have to be in control?  Can you never just let things go into my hands?  They are much stronger and more capable than yours.”

I thought of this passage from the book of James–one that has always had a way of putting me precisely into my humble place.  “Who are you to make plans?  Who are you to have the future all figured out?  Who are you, really?  You are here but by the grace of God.  So live like it.”

Live like it.  Live like it by letting go of the concept of “the future”.  Live like it by embracing the present.

Our niece’s surgery has been rescheduled for November 4.  But of course, a lot could happen between now and then.  And so, we’re trying to let go.  No more domination of fear.  No more obsessive planning and organizing.  No more trying to control a situation that is completely out of our hands.

Instead, we are giving thanks for a healthy little girl who could be bumped out of a surgery.

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

 

The Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast wilderness. Deuteronomy 2:7

These past few weeks, I have been in an M-O-O-D.  Instead of feeling positive and upbeat, I find myself frustrated and irritable and frustrated and irritable at the fact that I feel frustrated and irritable.  I think there are several factors behind this and I get that our emotions are just emotions and we choose how we respond to them.  But sometimes, I just want someone to say, “I understand exactly how you’re feeling.”  I also want them to say, “Here is definitively what you should do to get your positive mojo back.”  That never happens.

I know that many people out there have these amazing, clear as a mountain stream moments of spiritual epiphany where God sends out a message with trumpets blaring and there is an LED spotlight pointing straight to the path they should take.  I am not one of those people.

In my own personal faith journey, God seems more inclined to lead me through overgrown, unmarked forest paths that intertwine and wrap around and cross over mud bottomed streams full of catfish which I don’t even like to eat.  It’s irritating.  (Did I mention I’ve been in an M-O-O-D?)  And as much as I whine and complain and show just how much of a spoiled ungrateful child I am, God continues to stand resolute, arms crossed over his expansive chest saying, “You’re just gonna have to keep slogging through, baby.” 

You see, one of the things I believe is that God is much more interested in the “what” of who we are than the “where”.  God wants to make sure our life journey leads us closer and closer to Him.  Therefore, He’s willing to let us slog it out in muddy streams and overgrown paths in order to complete the great and perfect work in us He has begun.  And not only is God willing to let us slog it out, He will patiently stand before us and wait while we (I) dig our (my) heels into the muddy bank and get our (my) full stubborn on.

In the same way I work to outlast my stubborn as a mule 5 year old, so God, with infinitely more patience and gentleness, outlasts me.

“I’m not moving,” I say.

“Okay,” God replies.

“You can’t make me,” I say.

“That’s fine,” God replies.

“Seriously, I’m done with this,” I say.

“Then be done with it,” God replies.  “But I’ll be waiting on the other side.”

And that’s it, because God knows—He KNOWS—that regardless of how long I choose to sit on that muddy shore pouting, I will eventually pull myself up and slog on through.  And I will do this because no matter how crazy and complicated and irritating the path seems, I believe—I BELIEVE—in God’s plan for my life.

I believe that He sees the bigger, eternal picture of things.  I believe that He is working right now not only on my future, but on the future of my children and grandchildren and great grandchildren.  There are things coming together right now that I will never see—things that I cannot comprehend or or know but that will matter someday down the line of legacy.

And so, regardless of an M-O-O-D, I keep slogging on through trusting that one day, God will let me see the map.

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.  Hebrews 12:1-3

 

24 grams of carbs.  A 52 on the Glycemic Index which only goes up to 100.  Bananas.  No really, I’m talking about bananas.  The bright yellow half-moon shaped fruit that is rich and creamy and satisfying, especially with a tablespoon of peanut butter or Nutella.  My favorite snack these past several weeks has betrayed my sense of food trust.  As I stared at the numbers in bold black type I wanted to cry out in my best Dr. Doofenshmirtz voice, “Curse you bananas!!”  (If you don’t understand the Dr. D reference, talk to a child—preferably one with whom you have a healthy relationship and are friendly with their parents.)

You see, over the past couple of weeks my weight has hovered about a pound and a half over my “acceptable range” limit.  I know you’re probably thinking to yourself, “Seriously?  A pound and a half?  So what?”  The “so what” for me is that over the past year I have worked hard to lose over 50 pounds.  And when my weight goes over my “acceptable range”, I get a little panicked.  The skinny girl within me fought hard for this victory, and she’s not letting the fat girl out of the headlock without a pretty good fight!

Of course, I can’t blame it all on bananas.  It was probably more the pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin yogurt and pumpkin scones I’ve enjoyed over the past week that really edged the scale up. (Hmmm….. do you sense a pattern?)  Oh, and the Red Apple Ales I drank.  I deeply apologize if you’re a tea-totaler, but I like to think that Jesus wasn’t opposed to popping open a cold one with the disciples after a particularly strenuous day of ministry.

All kidding aside, I have to confess that sometimes I get tired of working to make healthy choices day in and day out.  Sometimes, instead of passing on the potatoes, I just want to slam my hand down on the table and yell, “Pass the potatoes, NOW!!!!”  Sometimes I want a break from conscious living.  And some days, that transfers over to my faith life as well.

There are times when living a life of faith wears me out.  I don’t want to do what God has on the agenda for today.  I’m tired of “blooming where I’m planted”, working hard to maintain a positive attitude, finding the God-moments in the midst of the everyday mess.  Sometimes, instead of trying to see the other side, to empathize with those who are struggling, I just want to say, “You know what, life is hard.  Deal with it and move on.”

When confronted with a negative, egotistical or mean person I would like to not model Christ-like behavior and instead simply say, “I don’t like you.  I’m not going to like you.  Don’t talk to me anymore.”

Some days, my selfish, judgmental, hypocritical, uncaring nature kicks into overdrive and I’d rather lay on the couch binging out on Hallmark movies and dessert than doing the work God has placed before me.

But here’s what I love, and I mean LOVE about the Lord My God.  His grace is infinitely big enough to cover up all of my absolute failures as a human being.  In fact, when I fall off the healthy food bandwagon, God doesn’t come to me and rub my nose into the extra pound or so flashing on the scale, ranting and raving like some overzealous personal trainer.  Instead, he quietly whispers to my heart a message of grace and redemption.

This is a life-long journey, He says to me.  It’s the culmination of healthy choices made over a lifetime that really counts.  Don’t beat yourself up.  Just keep working toward our goal of living a healthy lifestyle.

Likewise, when I feel fed up with living out the Call to show God’s love to those I meet on a daily basis, God doesn’t typically give me the swift kick in the gluteus maximus I deserve.  Instead, God gives me a quiet place to rest my mind.  He offers up time and space for me to focus on Him, to feel His presence, to renew and re-energize and refocus.

This is a life long journey, He says to me.  It’s the culmination of choosing to follow the path which I lead you down over the course of your lifetime that really counts.  Just keep looking to Me.  Come to Me, talk to Me, rest in Me.  Keep working toward our goal of living a life that reflects My Love and Grace.  Just keep trying.  I am with you, every step of the way.

I am humbled by the Grace and Mercy our Creator has for me.  I am convicted by His steadfast devotion.  I am moved by his Strength to get up and keep going.  And I am hopeful, because of His Perfect Love that I will one day hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Wishing you God’s Amazing Grace today.

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

P.S. Congratulations to Tina from Christian Joy Creations for winning the giveaway!!  Not only is she an amazing woman of God, she is also my personal health coach and has taught me much about the power of a journey!!

I have to confess, I don’t always enjoy motherhood.  There are days when I just want to throw my hands into the air, yell “Done!” and drive off to a fancy hotel where I can throw out the Do Not Disturb sign and snuggle down between crisply starched sheets that I didn’t wash.  Parenting is hard, especially in our current culture.  There are so many other voices and vices vying for the attention of our children.  There’s way too much information available about parenting tricks and techniques that one can easily get lost in.  There’s the lovely gift of social media which allows us to instantly compare ourselves to the sunny happy family pictures posted by our friends.  And never, does it seem, has there been so much at stake.

But then there are those moments, the wonder moments I like to call them, where the beauty and wonder and joy and thanksgiving of parenting all come together in one time and place and I find myself thinking, “This is good.  We are okay.”

I had one of those wonder moments the other night as we were driving home from the grocery store.  If you are a parent, the mere mention of children and grocery store together are enough to make you say, “ugh.”  If you are not a parent, borrow a friend’s children and take them to the grocery store.  Trust me, she won’t mind!!

As we were driving home, the boys were, as my 7 year old would say, “sitting on my nerves”.  I was done with the incessant chatter, silly voices, constant questioning and, in general, with hearing the word “Mommy” in any tone of voice.  In a moment of sheer inspiration (desperation) I put in one of our favorite Christian CD’s.  A minute later my irritation had been transposed into sheer joy as the boys and I had a little car jam to a new version of “This Is My Father’s World”.  Nothing melts my heart quite like hearing those two little voices raised in praise to God.

Five minutes of praise in the midst of irritation became a wonder moment.  And instead of saying, “God, help me” I found myself saying, “God, thank you.  Thank you for the beautiful gift of these children.  And thank you for the great honor of being their mother.”

I live for the wonder moments, when  God steps in through the midst of the noise, chaos and dysfunction of this world and reminds me that I don’t need to run away.  I just need to look to Him.

And now, the real reason you’re reading this post: A GIVEAWAY!!!!  In honor of my 300th article, I am giving away to one lucky reader a copy of Elizabeth George’s book, A Mom After God’s Own Heart: 10 Ways to Love Your Children.  Here’s a brief summary.  It’s beautiful.

A Mom After God’s Own Heart
	In A Mother After God’s Own Heart, Elizabeth George offers 10 principles to help moms make God an everyday part of their children’s lives. Whether your kids are young or grown, you will learn how to:  Teach your children God’s Word. Train them in God’s ways. Talk to your children about Jesus. Pray with and for them. Elizabeth is the mother of two grown children and six grandchildren. She gives practical advice and real-life suggestions for helping children, no matter what their ages, to incorporate God into daily life. Elizabeth’s husband, Jim, also provides biblical advice from a dad’s perspective. This book makes a great study resource for personal reflection, mom’s small groups, and a wonderful birthday or baby shower gift for new moms. For additional encouragement and growth, check out the accompanying devotional and study guide.

– See more at: http://www.elizabethgeorge.com/books/a-mom-after-gods-own-heart/#sthash.hjOJkWok.dpuf

With the book comes a beautiful clay scented cross which you can hang in your car/bathroom/cubicle/wherever with a special blessing for mothers tied around it.

So, here’s how you get it:

1. Follow my blog=3 tickets

2. Leave a comment= 2 tickets

3. Share this post=2 tickets

4. Like this post=1 ticket

If I were really on top of things I’d have some interactive sign-up thing.  But, I’m not.  So, choose your tickets, I’ll put them into a pretty glass bowl and will draw out a winner on Tuesday.

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

Come to me, all you who are weary, and I will give you REST.  Matthew 11:28

 As a working mom, most of my days are pretty full.  I get up in the mornings in mom mode–make lunches, get children dressed, make coffee, arrange for some sort of semi-nutritional breakfast…you know the drill.

Then I get to work where I promptly move into teacher mode.  This includes frantically getting copies made, books located and a “plan” in place for the 11 groups of students I meet with throughout the course of the day.

After a brief respite on my drive home I am back into mom mode, with pick-ups, homework, piano practice and dinner.

After the kids are in bed and asleep I enter into wife mode, which usually consists of sitting in the living room with my husband and watching shows we’ve recorded on the DVR and stumbling off to bed after The Daily Show ends at 10:30.

So when an author who will remain nameless suggests in his book about pursuing your dreams that one of the keys to dream achievement is “hustle”, I want to drop the book down the garbage disposal.  Obviously, this guy does not live in the land of working motherhood!  Like most other women I know, I don’t have anymore hustle to give.  And honestly, I don’t know that I would give it if I had it.

One of the sad truths about our American life is that we’ve manipulated the concept of hard-work so that it has become an idol of busyness.  We like the “hustle”, regardless of how much we protest it.  There’s a certain adrenaline rush that comes from being busy.  There’s a high that comes from shoving 36 hours of activity into a 24 hour day.  We feel like we are conquerors in some epic life battle.

We run from one scheduled activity to the next, max ourselves out on projects with tight deadlines, sign up for any and every committee that’s being offered.  And we do this because, deep down, we think being busy gives our life meaning.  The more we “hustle” the more we are achieving.  And achieving, in our culture, means success.

And yet, God’s design for our lives could not be more different.  God doesn’t want us to “hustle” through our lives.  Rather, God says come to me.  Sit quietly in my presence.  Find your rest in my peace.  Be still.  Know me.  Listen.  Wait.

In repentance and REST is your salvation; in quietness and trust is your strength.  But you would have none of it.  Isaiah 30:15

 

When Jesus came to visit the house of Mary, Martha and Lazarus, he didn’t praise Martha for running around like a chicken with her head cut off (as my mother would say) trying to make a perfect dinner for these unexpected guests.  Rather, he praised her sister, Mary, who did nothing but sit and listen to him speak.

God doesn’t want us running around until our heads spin.  God wants us still, at His feet, listening to His Word, communing with Him.  God hardwired our brains for connection; connection with other human beings and connection with Him.  And when we get caught up in the “hustle”, we miss those connections.

And so, I say with the Psalmist:

Return to your REST, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.  Psalm 116:7

May you find REST today.

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

Our temporary minor problems are producing an eternal stockpile of glory for us that is beyond all comparison. We don’t focus on the things that can be seen but on the things that can’t be seen. The things that can be seen don’t last, but the things that can’t be seen are eternal.  2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (CEB)

Two little white sweater vests.  Two little white sweater vests with corduroy pants and sneakers on feet running gleefully through the park.  Two little white sweater vests side by side, so close they almost touch; with corduroy pants and sneakers on feet running gleefully through the park.  Two little white sweater vests, and a mother’s heart that is melting in the beauty of the moment.

For this time is fleeting, the Spirit reminds me.  They are not yours to keep.

And so I close my eyes, basking in the warmth of the sun, thanksgiving flowing out from my soul.  The light and momentary troubles of parenting fade away before the two little white sweater vests with corduroy pants and sneakers on feet running gleefully through the park.  Thank you,  is the prayer I offer as I imprint the image in my mind of my two sons running together in their little white sweater vests.

They will not be mine forever.  They will grow older, more independent.  They will move on from me to create lives and families of their own.

They are not yours to keep.

And yet, there is so much more to do.  So many more lessons to be taught, so many more foundations to pour, so much more love cover them in.  There are tempers to tame, habits to create, voices to encourage and hearts to nurture.  There is faith left to build and character to develop.  Because, they are not mine to keep.

But today–today is a day for gratitude.  Today is a day of Sabbath from the light and momentary troubles of parenting.  Today is a day to marvel at the wonder of God’s creations.  Today is a day to watch the profound beauty of two little white sweater vests with corduroy pants and sneakers on feet running gleefully through the park.

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

Confession 297: An Attitude Adjustment.