Yesterday, I needed an attitude adjustment.  The day before at work I had reached my frustrational limit.  I was D-O-N-E!  So what happens when you’re a working mom and frustrated at work?  I am ashamed to say that, for me, I come home and am frustrated with my kids.  And when I am frustrated with them, their behavior only gets worse.  Instead of proactively parenting, I go into reactive mode.  Instead of trying to teach them why swinging around on the freezer door handle is dangerous, I just snap and grab them off of it–probably yelling “knock it off!!” in the process.  And the more irritated I get, the wilder they seem to be.

When we finally got them to go to sleep, at almost midnight, I knew that something had to give.  “God,” I said.  “I cannot have another day like today.”  It was abundantly clear to me that in order to not have another day like this, I would have to adjust my attitude.  And to adjust my attitude, I needed some divine inspiration.

God says to us that when we seek Him we shall find Him.  How true this has been in my life!!  I gave God my D-O-N-E day.  I prayed for renewal and a sense of peace.  I prayed that God would take the frustration from me and help me to focus in on doing what He has called me to do.  I went to work carrying this in my heart:

The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary.  He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.  Isaiah 50:4

Here is the truth as I know it in my life.  When I take time to still myself before the Lord.  When I listen to the teachings of the Holy One and delve into the Word which was and is and always will be, God helps me to see things in a new perspective.  His Wisdom takes away the clouds of frustration that can surround my mind and my heart.  He reminds me of His Purpose, of His Power, of His Love.

I walked into work yesterday with a song in my heart.  I was positive, upbeat and re-energized for my day.  And it wasn’t because I had flipped some mental switch, gotten a good night’s sleep, ate a good breakfast, etc…. It was because I spent time before the Throne of the Most High.  It was because I gave my burdens up to One much more capable than me.  I let God be God.  I gave Him Sovereignty over my being.

Don’t get me wrong–I’m no Pollyanna.  And God doesn’t come in and just magically wave his wand like some sort of eternal Albus Dumbledore and sweep all of my problems and frustrations away.  He does, however, (and did) give me a better spirit in which to encounter it all.  And so, I can say with the Psalmist:

In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.  Psalm 5:3

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.  Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say,  or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.  Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.  But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.                    2 Corinthians 12:6-10

111 pitches.  That was the pitch count last night for St. Louis Cardinals rookie pitcher Michael Wacha in the top of the 9th inning with no hits against him.  111 pitches and 2 outs.  111 pitches and 1 out away from becoming only the 12th pitcher in St. Louis Cardinals history to pitch a no hitter.  111 pitches.  And then came pitch 112.  As Wacha released the throw the ball soared smack into the bat of the opposing hitter.  Pitch 112 soared over the head of Wacha, his glove grazing the ball as he stretched his arm, trying to stop the ball from hitting the ground.  But, to no avail.  Pitch 112 was a hit.  The no-hitter was missed by no more than an inch.  112 pitches.  What a difference one pitch makes!! 

It’s kind of like that in life sometimes, isn’t it?  Everything seems to be coming together, dreams seem an inch within reach.  And then, there’s pitch 112.  The promotion you were sure of went to someone else.  The contract on your dream house falls through.  You get yet another rejection letter.  You find yourself throwing up in the bathroom behind the sanctuary on Christmas Eve.  Oh wait, that’s only in my family!!

The point is, life happens.  Plans go awry.  And it can hurt–a lot.  Kind of like a thorn in your side.  And like Paul, in those moments when it all seems to fall apart, we need to remember that God’s grace is enough.  Our failures and mistakes and disappointments are okay.  In fact, they’re perfect.  They’re an opportunity for God to step in and show His glory and majesty.  They’re an opportunity for God to show His strength, and for us to experience His love in a magnificently remarkable way.  God shines on pitch 112.

For the record, Michael Wacha didn’t view pitch 112 as a failure.  With a shrug and a big smile he said, “I guess it just wasn’t meant to be.”  For him, 8 and 2/3 innings of no hits was a great game.

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

Okay, I know it’s Tuesday.  But, I’m always a little late and the blessings remain the same!  The Acts 2 life is what I strive for, both personally and for our churches.

Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.  They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common.  They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.  Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.  Acts 2: 41-47

This passage of Scripture comes just after the miracle of Pentecost, the day the Holy Spirit fell upon the disciples and allowed them to proclaim the message of Jesus Christ in many different language.  Over 3,000 people were baptized into the Fellowship of Believers that day and a new community was established.  The early Christians were a small renegade band of citizens, defying both Jewish and Roman authority to actively practice their faith.  They couldn’t do it independently.  They needed and greatly depended on one another.

Throughout his missionary journeys the apostle Paul always lived in communion with those he ministered to.  He worked side by side with fellow believers, helping them earn their daily bread.  He stayed in their homes, shared their food, bolstered their faith.  Paul was ministered to by those he came to serve as much as he ministered to him.

To me, this is what true Christian Fellowship should look like.  We, as a unified body of believers, come together and share what we have in order to spread God’s Word of Love and Peace to those in our communities.  We stand together, helping each other along the way.  If someone in our community is lacking, then we should step up and offer what we can in order to meet that need.

Our journey in this life is not one of isolation.  We are surrounded by others along the way.  We need to embrace mutuality in our relationships with others.  That’s what an Acts 2 life represents-mutuality.  It’s about seeing others as equal partners, regardless of their gender, political beliefs, ethnic heritage or sexual preference.  It’s understanding that we are part of something bigger and better than this temporal life.  We are Kingdom dwellers.  And that Kingdom has been created to last a lifetime.

The apostle John said that believers in Christ would be recognized by their ability to love.  To me, that love he speaks of is an active love.  We love others when we meet them where they are.  We love others when we give of ourselves to them.  And we love others because God, in His infinite Love and Mercy came down to his Creation and gave us what we needed.

Acts 2 living is my goal.  I’m not there yet.  I’ve got more work to do in order to get out of my “me” bubble.  I’m not always thoughtful, considerate or even open to others.  I go into isolation and self-preservation mode sometimes.  But God’s work is not finished in my life yet.  And so I will look to Him, the Author and Perfecter of my faith, to help me move more fully into living an Acts 2 life.

To see an Acts 2 life in person, go to my friend Amy Sullivan.  Amy dedicated her family to a year of living an Acts 2 life.  They focused on giving to others in everything they did.  And now, a few years later, Amy has grown quite a ministry and is publishing her first book on living generously this coming Spring.

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

Then Job replied to the Lord:

Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell. Psalm 43:3

I was thinking about Paul Harvey the other morning.  Not Paul Harvey, really, but as I was going through my morning routine a memory stirred and Paul Harvey’s voice was there.  Growing up, my mom had a radio in the kitchen that was turned on each morning and tuned in to our community’s one and only radio station.  And while my mom bustled around the kitchen making lunches for everyone in our house before leaving for her full-time job, and while my sister and I sat at the dining room table eating our cereal and toast, Paul Harvey’s deep, gravelly voice floated over all of us, painting his beautiful pictures with his words.

Our culture today is all about the “big” moments.  Big trips, big parties, big experiences that your kids will remember for a lifetime.  But as I was remembering those Paul Harvey mornings, it occurred to me that our deepest and most lasting memories will be the ones born out of the rituals of everyday living.  It’s the things we do over and over again that imprint themselves on our minds and hearts.  And while the big events have their place, I think we need to focus the majority of our time and energy into making sacred the everyday.

The other night I made the choice to let the evening simply unfold.  No rushing to make dinner, no hurrying boys into the bath, no fuss over quickly getting jammies on.  Instead, we had a later supper and curled up on the couch to watch an hour long Disney t.v. show.  We spent time just being together.  And when bedtime did come, albeit about an hour late, it was much calmer and easier than the nights we’re rushing all over the place.

It occurred to me then that these moments are the sacred moments life is truly made of. This everyday living of our lives, these daily rituals we create in our homes.  They become part of who we are.  And unfortunately, for many of our nation’s children, those memories and moments are of discord and dysfunction.  As parents, we have a choice as to what kinds of memories we will create for our children.  I don’t want to be the crazy, yelling, rush-rush mom, stressed out and aggravated with the kids being kids.  I want my children to be enveloped with calmness and peace.  I want their memories of home to be warm and comforting.  I want that solid foundation of love in their hearts upon which they can build other meaningful and lasting relationships.  And that all happens by committing to love and embrace the everyday.

It’s the little things we do day in and day out that make up a life.  It’s the patterns of our daily behavior that we always default back to when life gets tough.  And so, I want those Paul Harvey mornings for my own children.  I want them established in routines that bring them peace, security and love.  And for some reason, Paul Harvey’s voice recounting “the rest of the story” over a bowl of cornflakes with my sister right across from me brings me all of those things.

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.  Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”  When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.  Ruth 1:16-18

“Mrs. Snyder, Blake could use some extra support right now,” Mrs. Teacher says to me.  When I was working as a paraprofessional, that was my cue that my student was crawling around the classroom under the tables and disrupting whole group learning.  I would go into the classroom, quietly get him to leave, and we’d go do some kinesthetic activities to help him settle down.  At my school, we operate under the principle that behaviorally challenging students aren’t problems, they just need some extra support.

The reality is that in our crazy, frenetic, stress-filled lives, we all sometimes need a little extra support.  The problem is that most of the time we’re too proud to ask for it.  As a pastor’s wife, I sometimes fall into the ridiculous assumption that I have to appear to have it all together.  My role is to help others.  Therefore, I need to be positive, upbeat and focused on the needs of those around me.  While this is true, I’m not a robot. My life isn’t perfect.  Like everyone else, some days are better than others.

A good friend of mine called me out on this a few years ago.  We were emailing back and forth and most of my emails consisted of things like, “We’re fine.  The boys are good.  Church is great.  Let’s talk about you.”  Fed up with generic emails, she finally replied, “You know, you don’t have to be a pastor’s wife around me.”  A light bulb went off in my head.  While choosing to remain positive and upbeat is important, it’s also important to be authentic.  And the truth is that sometimes, even a PW needs a little extra support!

The truth is, God never meant for our lives to be lived in solitary confinement.  God recognized the importance of human support in His creation of Eve to be a partner to Adam.  Jesus sent the disciples out in pairs to minister to others, and Paul always had at least one travelling companion.  We need others because we need support in our lives.  God works through the encouragement, advice, understanding, wisdom, and helping hands of others.  And not only should we be all of those things for others, we need to acknowledge our need for them in our own lives.

About a year ago, I started a weight loss program.  In the time since, I have lost over 50 pounds and dropped about 4 sizes.  It’s been an incredible journey.  However, I could not have (and was not doing) it on my own.  I needed support, sometimes daily, in order to make the changes in my life that needed to happen in order for me to be healthy again.  That support came in the form of my friend and fellow blogger, Tina Cochran.  Tina is my health coach.  She’s the person I go to when I need a little bit of support to make healthy choices.  Tina has created a wonderful ministry out of her life called “Creative Joy Ministries”.  She has put together an uplifting e-course entitled “30 Days to Joy”.  It’s simple, yet profound, and encourages you to look at yourself in a whole new way.  Check it out!  She might just be the extra support you need!!

Needing some support isn’t a bad thing, it’s the way we were designed!  God doesn’t want us to be able to do it all on our own!!  He wants us to need some help–He wants us to be dependent on Him!  As Paul writes, God’s power is made perfect in our weakness.  And to depend on God, we have to sometimes depend on others.  We need support.  And it’s a good thing.

This morning, I’m battling a respiratory infection.  I have an antibiotic, I stayed home and rested yesterday, but I was coughing a lot last night and will probably need a little support to get going.  For that, I’m going to the Lord who can give me strength.  I’m also going to the coffee maker which can give me caffeine!!  My husband is feeling exhausted this week.  I will support him by taking the boys to school.  There’s a mutuality in support.  While Ruth supported Naomi, Naomi also worked to support Ruth.  They depended on one another.  And they both depended on God.

Sometimes we need some support.  It’s okay.  God, in his Perfect Wisdom and Understanding has already provided just what you need.

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

Do you ever have those days when you think to yourself, “Why did I get out of bed for THIS?”  You know, those days when every single stressor in your life decides to emerge from hibernation?  You can’t get the kids out the door for school, you don’t have time to make a lunch, the coffee cup lid isn’t on tight enough, you’re out of gas, you’re late for a meeting and stuck behind a rolling roadblock, unprepared to meet a deadline, get a call from your child’s school, have bills past due, have a sick child-spouse-self and just want to curl up in a ball and sleep your life off.

Yes, in our hectic and frenetic world staying in bed with the covers pulled up tight can sound like a much better option than swimming into the melee.  It’s in those moments when we have to force ourselves to turn toward God, take a deep breath and exhale, “You’ve got this.”  And indeed, God does have our day in hand.  The act of getting out of bed some mornings is an acknowledgement of our trust and faith in the One who has counted each hair on our head.

“You’ve got this,” we whisper.

“YOU’VE got this.”

This morning, my 5 year old was a bear.  We had a super fit over not getting chips for breakfast (he did have Cheez-Its).  Then we had another fit over the fact that Mommy had to leave for work.  I went through all of the stuff we go through when we’re working through fits.  Here are your choices….let Mommy help you calm down… Mommy is not going to engage in this conversation anymore.  As I was reading my devotional about peace, he was right next to me screaming, “CHIPS AND CHEEZ-ITS!!!”  “Lord,” I thought, “please help.”

As I was dropping my first grader off at school, NOT wishing well to anyone around me, a little voice in my head said, “You have a choice right now.  You can continue being cranky and irritable because you had a rough morning and are feeling angry and frustrated.  OR, you can CHOOSE to move beyond your feelings and work to create a positive day.  And so, feeling convicted, I asked God to help me move beyond the anger and frustration and work to be a blessing in the lives of those I encountered today.

I put my hymn CD in the CD player and let the words wash over me.  I remembered the promises of God that I have hidden in my heart and by the time I pulled into the school parking lot, I was ready for the day.

Here are some of my go-to verses when I’m feeling like I just should have stayed in bed for the day….I pray that they can be a blessing to you as well.

I lift up my eyes to the hills.  Where does my help come from?  My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and Earth.  He will not let your foot slip.  Indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.  Psalm 121

Fear not, nor be afraid of them, for the Lord Your God He it is who doth go with thee.  He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.  Deuteronomy  31:6

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Isaiah 43:2

I have told you these things so that in me you will have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.  John 16:33

Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.  Philippians 4:8

Of course, there are hundreds more I could put.  But these get me through some of my toughest days.  The KJV are the ones I memorized as a child!!  Sorry, it’s just how I know them!

And so, whatever kind of day you are having, I pray that Christ’s peace, which transcends all understanding, will fall upon you and that you can say with confidence, “Lord God, you’ve got this.”

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God…” Matthew 5:9

I am not generally a publicly political person.  As a pastor’s wife, it’s good to see multiple points of view!  If it matters, I would classify myself as a liberal.  BUT, before some of you decide to stop reading, I need to tell you that many of my nearest and dearest friends would classify themselves as conservative.  Our American political pundits would be shocked to discover that once you’ve shared a part of your life journey with someone, who they vote for matters very little to the relationship.

That said, I have become increasingly troubled by the talk of U.S. military strikes in Syria. I am not an expert on the civil war in Syria.  My friend Tricia over at the Domestic Fringe has had some good educational articles on the subject.  Don’t worry–she’s not a political nut, either!!  Her blog is a witty and vibrant reflection of modern daily life with some fashion tips thrown in to boot!

I think the violence in Syria, as in many parts of our world, is deplorable.  But our current political stance on the situation makes me think, to steal a phrase from Dr. Becky Bailey, “There’s got to be a better way.”

When I was in seminary, there was an amazingly powerful art sculpture hanging in the antechamber of our chapel.  And artist had fashioned some swords into the shape of a plow, thus reflecting the prophetic vision of Isaiah 2:4 and Micah 4:3 of the coming of the kingdom of the Lord in which the people of Judah and Jerusalem will be at peace, “beating their swords into plowshares”.  I loved that this sculpture was placed before the entryway of the place for holy worship.  It reminded me each time I walked into chapel of the love that God has for His people and the ways in which we are to show others that love.

As Christians, I think we need to be the voice of peace in the world.  I’m not saying our local churches should start organizing protest marches, although some might.  But I think that if we want to stand against violence and aggression in our world, we need to do so with love.  We need to support organizations that seek to lift people up.  We need to be a visible presence for good in our communities.  We need to speak to others using words of respect and kindness, even in the midst of a disagreement.  We need to show our children what it’s like to empathize, not criticize.  We need to show them how to build others up, not tear them down with judgement.

I don’t know how to end the civil war in Syria.  But I know that there are ways we can help those affected by the violence there without the use of weapons.

Blessed are the peacemakers, Jesus said.  Let’s work harder to be one of them.

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

The United Methodist Church’s annual service weekend (SERVE) happened this past weekend.  The idea behind SERVE is for the church to get out of the building and to engage in mission projects throughout the community.  Our local church is actually doing our SERVE projects this coming weekend.  And, I’m very excited!!  In fact, I might have given a “whoop-whoop” when talking about it during worship this past Sunday. 🙂

I love mission.  And, my husband and I are extremely blessed to be serving in a mission loving church.  While our congregation might be small (we average around 100 in worship per week) we are mighty when it comes to service.

Here are some of the ways we’ve served our community (local and global) over the past 4 years:

1. Donated a gift ark worth $5000 to Heifer International 

2. Made and sent 35 dresses to Little Dresses for Africa

3. Raised in one week of VBS over $1600 for Imagine No Malaria

4. Donated over 200 pairs of shoes to a local shoe project

5. Stocked our local backpack program for the year–twice

6. Helped to sponsor a child’s education through The Rainbow Network

This coming weekend we will hold a clothing giveaway, make and serve meals to several families within our local community, beautify our community, assist the school district in repairs needed at the football stadium, and host a benefit dinner to assist a local family whose house was recently destroyed by fire.  Our children are making crafts and will be distributing them to the local nursing home, visiting with residents there.

I know this all reeks a bit of braggadocio, and I am very proud to be part of our congregation.  However, the real message for me is that there are no excuses when it comes to showing the love of Jesus Christ to a world in need.  Jesus calls us to serve.  And it doesn’t matter how old (or young) we are, how much money we have, the skills we have (or don’t have), the time we have… we ALL have something to give.  And when we work together in the name of Jesus there is NO LIMIT to what we can accomplish!!

Scripture shows us over and over again that when we give God what little we have, He multiplies it exponentially.  There are no limits to God’s ability to work through us.  Therefore, we should not limit ourselves in our willingness to serve.

SERVE the Lord with gladness…. Psalm 100:2

I love this promo created by the United Methodist Church a few years ago, entitled “Rethink Church”.  It is my prayer that we, as congregations, can strive to live this out.  Check it out.

What can God accomplish through you?

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:34-35

What does it mean to say, “I love you?”  Are words enough?  Do they need to be supported with actions?  What kind of actions demonstrate “I love you?”  As Christians, most of us know the answer to these questions.  Essentially, “I love you” is about putting others first.  It’s about respecting and valuing other human beings for who they are, not who you want them to be.  It’s looking at others with empathy and compassion rather than judgement and criticism.  It’s giving of yourself–your time, your money, your presence, your convenience–even when you’d rather keep them to yourself.  And no, simply uttering the words is not enough.

Recently, I have been exploring a program called Conscious Discipline, developed by Dr. Becky Bailey.  I am NOT an expert in this field, but it is something I am beginning to try and understand and implement, both in my home and classroom.

Based on current brain research, conscious discipline seeks to understand the neurological motivations for our behavior and, after becoming conscious of those motivations/triggers/factors, finding practical ways to regulate the behaviors.  It’s about assuming responsibility for ourselves and our behaviors and, once we have learned to do that, teaching the children in our lives to do the same.

One of the things I LOVE about Conscious Discipline is the focus on building meaningful relationships and communities.  Dr. Bailey stresses the importance of connectivity in schools and families in order to create a positive behavioral environment.  Every human being has an innate need to feel loved and accepted.When we foster connectivity between people, we give people a voice, we are better able to empathize with one another, and we can engage in meaningful relationships.   Moreover, as parents and educators, connectivity allows us the opportunity to truly teach our children the skills needed to live meaningful lives.  As stated on the Conscious Discipline website:

“Connection, not attention, is what all people seek. Loving moments of genuine connection literally wire the brain for impulse control and willingness. The biochemistry of love allows us to move beyond power struggles to a willingness to cooperate, fosters forgiveness instead of simply trying to forget, and provides the willingness needed to repair ruptured relationship moments.”

 One of the ways to develop connectivity is through the use of “I Love You Rituals”.  These are intentional repeated acts that help us bond with one another.  Check out this clip from the Conscious Discipline folks.  I apologize in advance for any tears you may shed!

In the Church, we have “I Love You Rituals” as well.  Communion, Confirmation, Baptism, Foot Washing and the Laying of Hands can all be “I Love You Rituals” with, perhaps, a bit of tweaking.  Think about what our churches would look like if we truly embraced connectivity.  I think connectivity is what Jesus was developing throughout his ministry.  Being part of the triune God, he would have a thorough understanding of the way human beings are wired!!  I think Jesus knew the importance of being connected, both amongst the created and with the Creator.  Jesus’ whole life said, “I love you”.  Are we able to say the same?

Blessings and Peace,

Sara