Too easy

But at the beginning of creation, God made them male and female.  For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.  So they are no longer two, but one flesh.  Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.
                                                                         Mark 10:6-9  (NIV)

Divorce...I see it day in, day out.  It's way too easy.  And it really shouldn't be.  They keep changing laws that make it even easier too.  It's now to the point where you don't even have to be separated a certain period of time, there are very few grounds for divorce...whereas in the past you had to pick something like irreconcilable differences or adultery.  Back several years ago, you had to be separated two years to get a divorce on irreconcilable differences, which means it was no one's fault, your marriage was just 'irretrievably broken down' and 'future attempts at reconciliation' were likely to fail.  Then they created this six-month waiver you both could sign to get past the two years...because good heavens, what if I want to get remarried right away?!

At one time, having counsel was a must.  Now, we have several pro se parties...which means they are doing it all on their own, thanks to the Internet websites that provide the forms and information.  You can even file a waiver of fees and get the filing fees waived too...so you can really bypass a lot of the excess and get that quickie divorce.

This is what pushed me over the edge today - I just scheduled a divorce for an over-the-road truck driver, whose present live-in has been the one calling me for court dates.  When I gave her the date, she responds by telling me that he will have to take the whole day off and how he doesn't want to waste too much time waiting his turn in court.

Oh, heaven forbid, you waste time on ending your marriage.  What an inconvenience.

Makes me crazy.

And weddings.   I can hook you up with a civil ceremony one Monday a month for a mere $10.  Now, if you can get married for approximately $37 (license is $27 I think) and you can have your fees waived for divorce - what a deal!

I'm not against all courthouse weddings because I do think that every now and then we get serious couples in who just want to be married and don't need all the hoopla.  That's fine with me.  It is a waste of money to spend thousands on a wedding anyway, in my opinion, at least.  But probably 75% of the weddings we see, we will again see in divorce court...or someone else will.

Or, hey, why bother with divorce?  Just move in with someone else today!  There is certainly no time to wait.

Marriage is serious.  It's a contract entered into by two people (man and woman in my book) saying - No matter what I'm sticking this thing out with you.  Even if I'm a jerk sometimes, or you're a jerk.  Even if I like marina sauce and you like nacho cheese sauce (haha, I had to throw that one in for Jay).  Even if things are not perfect.

I do realize stuff happens.  Marriages do break down and some for very good reason.  Some without fault by one party.  But  many times, you just have to push through the rough spots.

We live in a world that demands instant gratification and feel-good moments.  There is absolutely no time to wait on anything.  And for some reason our government has lost all sense when it comes to the laws regarding divorce.  It should really not be such a petty procedure.  I guarantee if they had some sort of app on the iPhone to get divorced, it would be a gold mine.

I may not have a perfect marriage, but I do have a serious belief in the commitment I made.  Maybe I got lucky when I married my guy, (I'd like to think so) but whatever the case may be, it isn't always easy.  And it shouldn't be.

Sometimes I have to accept the nacho cheese and do without the marinara.  ;)

Love one another

Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself.  I am the Lord.   Leviticus 19:18

If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.  And this commandment we have from him:  whoever loves God must also love his brother.    1 John 4:20-21

At nearly 41 years old, I would like to think that having my feelings hurt by someone else wouldn't happen anymore.  Unfortunately, we all know that's not the case.  I tell my kids all the time that they will never outgrow conflict or difficult people/relationships.

When we watch our children have friendship troubles, it is heartbreaking.  I know my first reaction is to fix the problem, but I also know that will teach my children nothing about dealing with conflict and resolution.  When you're an adult though, how do you approach an adult about something upsetting without feeling like you're 13 again?

Several scenarios run through my mind and I can't seem to come up with a good one to resolve the problem.  And when I say resolve the problem, I don't know that that is even in my control because, quite frankly, the 'problem' doesn't even lie at my feet.  It has very little to do with me personally, the way I see it.  But it bothers the daylights out of me.

There are times my thoughts are consumed with this situation and I have to stop myself and say, "God, please, please, please, let me let go of this!"  (And I sometimes add, "Seriously!" as if he doesn't understand my plea without that extra word.)  Why can't I just get over it?  They are entitled to their opinion, and I am entitled to mine.  It doesn't mean we can't be friends, right?

I don't have an answer.  I wish I did.  I wish I knew how this situation would unfold over the next few months/years.  I wish I could read the mind of those I'm struggling with.  I wish things could just go back to normal, the way things used to be.

I am also observing another situation not exactly like the one I'm troubled by, but one that hits close to home nevertheless.  And I find myself wondering, what will be gained by continuing this conflict? In the end, who truly wins this battle?  The one who pushes to the limits or the one who stands their ground?  Does it even matter...

In either situation, I have to believe that Satan is at the core.  Because we are taught that Jesus is love. Jesus would not want discord among believers...and yes, I'm talking about believers.  We should love one another, regardless of our personal opinions.

Like it or not, we are all part of the same family.

Right

I'm assistant coach for my son's summer league baseball team.  I have enjoyed it thoroughly.  We have a great group of boys and we've had a good season.  My task is to keep the boys in the dugout in line and the book.  I really like keeping the book and it gives me some purpose.  It also helps me focus and not yell so much :)

The other night we played a team we had not played before.  They were good competition.  We were having to dig deep within, which is good.  There wasn't another dad to help out so I also stood at first base giving my two cents to the boys when we were up...and kept the book.  (I probably need a little more practice at doing those two things at once!)

Anyway, in the second inning I noticed the score board had the other team up one run.  Young kids run the board and I'm glad they do, I figured I would correct them but let it go too long.  Middle of the third inning, when it was our turn to bat (and we would be batting last), the coaches realized our scores were off.  Our head coach asked me to go over and compare our books with theirs to get the correct score.  (It was important at this point, we were down three or four runs and this was the last bat.)

I headed over with the book, feeling confident about my work, but with an open mind (of course).  I could easily have made a mistake, especially when I was coaching at first base.

I  knew it wasn't going to go well when the lady keeping their book all but threw her book in my face and said, "Here, check it."  I was thinking we would check it together...She didn't keep her book like mine and I had a hard time making heads or tails of her markings.  I counted twice and came up with fewer runs than what she said.  When the fella came over to look, I realized (DUH!) that I was looking at our teams page and not their team.  There went my credibility.  Goodness.

But even when looking at the correct page in my book and comparing to hers, it did not match. Suddenly, the discrepancy caught my eye.  Their third out was the runner on third getting thrown out at home.  She had the two runners AFTER that runner scoring.  There is no way that could've happened...

As I was getting ready to explain this, there was a 'bad' call on the field in our favor and they went wild.  I didn't see what happened, but there had been a couple close calls earlier (again, in our favor) and these folks were HOT.   Part of me wanted to stay right in there and argue with these coaches about the last out and how their runners could not have possibly scored.  I assume my book was correct.  We were the home team.  

And frankly, I love to win.

And then I decided I didn't want to get punched, so I walked away and headed back to our team without really coming to a conclusion on the correct score.

Our fans asked me on the way back what the score was and I told them we disagreed by one run on their score.  As we went through that final bat, I was asked a couple times what the score was.  Again, I reiterated the score I thought was correct, according to my score keeping.

But as I thought about this later on, it occurred to me, I really need to be more concerned with doing right rather than being right.

These boys are watching me.  Parents are watching me.  Strangers are watching me.  God is watching me.

I don't want this team to get ticked at our summer league program and not come back.  It wasn't anything personal from my standpoint, as far as the score keeping, I was sincerely trying to figure out the discrepancy and see if I was wrong...and get it right.

Isn't that the way life is though...we get so wrapped up in being right that we forget to do what is right. I should...Do the right thing even though I may feel cheated.  Do the right thing even though it wasn't what I had in mind.  Do the right thing even if I may get in trouble. Do the right thing even if I might lose...

We ended up winning the game anyway - by one run according to them, two according to me (Ahh, can I really let it go?)

But I walked away with a new tidbit - I would rather do right than be right.

It kind of goes along with one of my favorite verses:  For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.               1 Peter 3:17 (NKJV)

Honesty - the best policy

Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered, but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.       Proverbs 28:18 (ESV)

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.               Galatians 6:9 (ESV)

Honesty is the best policy - I heard that phrase no less than 1000 times come out of my father's mouth growing up.  Honesty/truthfulness are essential to our character and integrity.

Sometimes being honesty is tricky.  Little white lies like saying you love some one's outfit or hair when truly you don't like it all slip at without thought.  Or how about accidentally telling the truth without realizing that someone else is hoping you won't. (Think childhood!)

I'm a terrible liar.  Always have been and so are my children.  My kids get a look on their face that shouts, "I'm fibbing," even though they may persist in their tall tale.  I can remember a year or two ago, Jay and I got so mad at them because no one would confess to spray painting red paint on the wall in the shed.  They had been asked to spray paint a farrowing crate and were to do it in the shed. What we didn't say was, "Hey, while you're at it, spray wherever you want."  Somehow, red spray paint magically appeared on the wall.  It isn't a huge deal, except that neither one of them would just admit to the truth.

It was so frustrating.  When you're going to get in trouble anyway, why not just tell the truth?  It's a tough theme to get through their heads sometimes.  We know something happened, just tell us and tell us the truth.  Ahh.  I don't expect it will get any easier the older they get.  And they're not chronic liars by any means, but every now and then...

Sometimes telling the truth is painful.  A few weeks ago a young man I know told the truth about something he participated in and was punished for it.  Regardless of the situation, he did the right thing by telling the truth.  I could go on and on about various aspects of the situation, but I won't because I don't necessarily know all the facts, and in the end that isn't what is important.  What I do know is this - that young man will be blessed in the future for his honesty.  God will reward him some day in some way for doing what was right in the middle of something messy.  And I'm guessing that although many will forget about that incident, he will not.

I would be lying (ha) if I said I had never told a lie (s), big and little.  It's not necessarily something I struggle with at this point in my life, nor do I really remember struggling with it much at all.  For the most part, honesty has been ingrained into my brain...by Godly influences, my parents, my conscience.

When in doubt - just spit it out...the truth, that is.

Simple Pictures Are Best

Anyone ever read that book as a child?  When I was thinking about writing a post about taking pictures last week, this book instantly came to mind.  My mom read this book to me and my brother many times when we were younger.  It's about a shoemaker and his wife wanting their picture taken for their anniversary.  Although the photographer keeps repeating the same thing over and over, "simple pictures are best," the couple continues to gather items and pets to put in the picture - cluttering up the picture, and the photographer gets very frustrated.  It is a really funny book with a good message.  If you haven't read it, you're missing out.

Can't we all relate to the basic principle of that children's book?  We spend too much time cluttering up our lives with unimportant items and even people that take our mind off of the real picture.

I don't like hearing anyone being called stupid, but the phrase, "Keep it simple, Stupid," is one I can imagine God might like to use on me every now and then...simplicity seems to apply to more than just a photo.

Although, I must say, cluttering up any picture of me with items that can draw attention away from my un-photogenic face is probably a good idea.

Stupid Tax

If you have ever listened to Dave Ramsey, you know that is where I get today's title.  Jay and I paid a little bit of stupid tax last week.  A stupid tax usually comes from someone in the Murphy family, if you know what I mean.

Last week Jay picked up the bud after school and headed to the gas station for fuel.  He wanted to get some diesel for the tractor so he could blade the driveway while the temps were up.  He also went ahead and topped off the tank in his truck.

They came home, he filled the tractor up and away he went to shove snow.  Not long into his blading, the tractor simply shut off.  Died.  Wouldn't start for nothing.  He looked it over a few minutes and decided to get his truck to pull it out of the middle of the driveway and take it over to the barn.

He got in his truck, turned the key and nothing.  Hmm.  He sat there a minute and was starting to fume at the notion he had received 'bad' fuel from the gas station...then he noticed the odor from his gloves and looked down at his receipt.

$2.19/gal

Diesel costs more than $2.19/gal.  Jay had inadvertently put gasoline into his truck and the tractor diesel can.  That is not good.

I am just about home when my phone rings, it's Jay.  "You will not believe what I just did."

Let me stop for a moment and say this, if you have followed this blog any at all or know my husband, the above statement could pertain to just about anything under the sun.  My first thought was he got another dog.  (I would've strangled him, seriously.)

"Just tell me."  (It's best to just get it over with.)  "I put gas in my truck and the tractor."  Oh Snap!  "The tractor died in the driveway."  "Can I get around it?"  "Yes."  I continue on to our driveway.

I look at the narrow passage and decide to go for it...and should not have.  I was quickly 'stuck' sort of.  Enough that I knew better, so I stopped the car, turned it off, gathered my stuff and walked to the house.  There are certain times in life where it's best to just walk away...

After talking to his diesel mechanic and working out the details of getting the truck picked up, he quickly wiggled my car out of the snow.  He and Lane used the winch on the four-wheeler to pull the tractor over to the barn, and the Quackdaddy came over with his truck to move Jay's truck in a position that could be easily reached by the flat bed coming our way.

About the only thing I could think to say was "I'm glad it was me or the kids."  And ladies, you know exactly what I mean.  I really wanted to shout "Thank you, JESUS, it wasn't me or the kids!"

Fortunately, there was no serious harm.  The truck hadn't broken down along the road.  No accident or injury came about and everyone was safe.  As 'luck' would have it, Jay didn't seriously damage his fuel system.  It was drained and after a change of fuel filters and some REAL diesel, it was running fine.

Funny thing, the mechanic did discover a potential problem in the 4WD mechanism that was about to break.  Had that happened, it would have been a much more serious repair.  And maybe that would have resulted in an accident or injury...

Yes, we paid a stupid tax, but I'm thinking maybe God intervened just a little.

Lunchtime odd couple

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.  Ecclesiastes 4:9 (NLT)

During the cold months especially, I spend most of my lunch hours in a local church gym.  I should say, I spend about half of my lunch hour there, I do eat first and run quick errands if I need to.  Just recently it dawned on me how much I have come to love the peace and quiet I experience while there.  There is something about going inside that dark gym, flipping on the light and walking without any other interference.  Yes, I'm walking in a carpeted gym when I would really love to be outside on a beautiful day, but that is not an option right now.  Thankfully, this is.

I love it for many reasons.  One, I'm getting at least a half hour of exercise in regardless of what my evening consists of; two, sometimes (most of the time) I need to get out of my office and the courthouse and just be somewhere else - a mental refresher; three, I always take my Nook and read while I walk - yes, I know it sounds crazy, but really you can walk in circles and read without hurting yourself; four, regardless of rain, shine, snow or sleet (even crazy hot temps) I can still walk; and five, I've got an hour to kill.

When grandma was alive, I visited her during my lunch hour.  In the nice weather, I drive to the state park and sit and read, or drive around.  At least once a week, I do my grocery shopping over the noon hour to save time later.  Sometimes, when I don't want to leave the building, I walk circles in the courtroom - although it is not nearly as relaxing. During the winter months, I have to find something to do indoors and this has been the perfect solution.

This winter I've been sharing the gym with a young man who underwent a heart transplant a few months ago and is not attending school right now because of the risk of illness. He is there shooting baskets and doing some exercises and drills, probably to regain lost strength and to - like me, get out of the house! At first, I thought, this will be temporary once he realizes that I am here almost every single day during this time period.

Nope.  It really surprises me that he has not decided to change up the time he comes, but he doesn't.  I am not saying he comes specifically BECAUSE I am there - I know that's not the case - but he must not mind that I'm there.  At the beginning, I would continue to walk around the circumference of the gym and just dodge any stray balls.  After a while, I realized that it might be helpful if I would just stay on one side of the gym and he could stay on the other side (sometimes he has someone with him shooting baskets).

We almost never speak.  I usually wave at him when I arrive and when I leave, or give him a nod.  He is a teenager, and like so many of them, he has ear buds in.  I learned this by trying to talk to him and being ignored, only he wasn't ignoring me, he just couldn't hear me.  I accept that and do the wave and/or nod thing instead.

The very first time I saw him at the gym a few months ago, he was with an older gentleman and he was wearing a mask.  I can't remember how much time had elapsed since his operation, but it hadn't been very long.  I was very surprised to see him, and although I had never met him, I knew exactly who he was.  I asked the pair if they minded if I walked, they said no, and I told the young man that I had been praying for him (and still do especially now that I see him so often).

Selfishly, at times, I wish he wasn't there so I could have full reign of the gym. Why does he continue to come during my lunch hour?  I don't know.  Maybe he wonders why I don't switch up my time to avoid him.  Perhaps he is tired of being alone a large part of his day while his parents work and he would normally be in school.  And then again, maybe God put us there together just in case he would have trouble...

Bullying - No Age Limit

“Here’s another old saying that deserves a second look: ‘Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.’ Is that going to get us anywhere? Here’s what I propose: ‘Don’t hit back at all.’ If someone strikes you, stand there and take it. If someone drags you into court and sues for the shirt off your back, gift wrap your best coat and make a present of it. And if someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously." Matthew 5:38-40 (The Message)

I get so tired of hearing about bullying.  It seems like everywhere we turn, we're hearing about it.  I am not saying it doesn't exist and it's not serious, I just wish it would stop.  (On the other hand, I also get tired of it being an excuse for bad behavior.)

What I am starting to realize is that bullying doesn't go away at a certain age.  I see it now even as an adult.  The hard part for me is that adults should really know better.

It is so hard to turn the cheek, as we're commanded to do.  It never gets easier.  I'm a sassy one, I've been told, and it's really difficult for me not to spout off sometimes when I really want to.  (Now where does Madolyn get this nasty trait?)

Many times I think...Oh, it would feel so good to make them hurt like I am (or the way they are making someone else hurt).  God says, No, do unto others as you would have done unto you.  

I wonder...Don't they understand the hurt they are causing?  God says, Forgive them and love them anyway.

I ponder...Oh, if only they would get a little taste of what they're dishing out.  God says, Sarah, do not repay evil with evil.

I repeat in my mind the old saying...What comes around goes around.  And God whispers, My child, do not wish harm upon another.

Many times, I start to write, text something or start punching numbers to make a call...and God reminds me, take a deep breath, think about what you're doing, and turn that chubby cheek of yours.

Unfortunately, bullying exists whether you're 5, 15 or 45 years old.  I know it's easier said than done, but I wish we could all just spread God's love and forgiveness instead of tearing down one another.

Inside out

For years, I believed that being healthy was about how much I weighed.  I had never really had trouble with weight until I had Madolyn.  After a child comes along, everything in your selfish world comes crashing down and mom and dad's needs take a back seat to baby.  It happens and it is not the end of the world for most people.

But it seems that the struggle to lose weight just never ends.  I did well on Weight Watchers a few years ago.  It is a great program if you are willing to stick with it, but I wasn't really happy with all the 'diet' food I was ingesting. The past few years, I've kind of had an overhaul on my perspective of good health.  As I'm creeping up on 40, I'm figuring out that the numbers on the scale do not determine my health.

When God created the earth, he gave Adam and Eve everything they needed to survive.  Food and water.  It was freely available, without having to search it out or work for it.  Before they sinned by eating the forbidden fruit, there weren't even weeds in the garden.  Can you imagine a garden without weeds?!  That first sin messed everything up.  We now have weeds, painful childbirth and are inclined to wear clothes (okay, maybe that was a good thing) among other things.

Following Adam and Eve's lead, Man came along and decided that the fruit, nuts, plants and meat of the earth wasn't tasty enough and they started adding things to make it yummy and more enticing. Plain water was boring and tasteless, so they had to doctor that as well.  And here we are...in a world full of unhealthy, over-processed, artificially-flavored, sugar-rich food.  And we are a sickly bunch... overweight, tired, suffering from pain, weakness and other unexplained symptoms.

In my humble opinion, it all ties in to what we put in our bodies.

I'm not a poster child for clean eating or healthy living by any means, but I'm slowly trying to become a step-poster child for it.  I would have to say I began a few years back when I kicked the Diet Pepsi addiction to the curb...only to replace it with something not much better, Crystal Lite with Caffeine (and the nasty artificial sweetener).  I weaned myself off of several Crystal Lite drinks a day to one first thing in the morning and felt pretty good about it.

I tried hard to like coffee...and I just couldn't.  I drank it for a few weeks off and on at work, straight, trying to force myself into that addiction.  Why?  I don't know except that I wanted another drink option.  I was sick of water.  That was a few months ago.

Now, I'm loving my water.  Weird, I know.  I've pushed my artificial sweeteners almost entirely off this mountain.  I still enjoy a Diet Pepsi at Monical's with pizza or at a Mexican restaurant (where I know the pop is so good), but that is it.

I never thought it was possible that I would drink water, almost exclusively.  Not for me at least.  I'm working on getting healthy inside and out.  Sure, I'm hoping the scale numbers fall a tad, but that isn't my number one goal anymore.

During this process, I recently stumbled onto Plexus.  I will be sharing about my Plexus journey over the next few weeks.

Sheep and Butterflies

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.  Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.  1 Peter 3:3-4 (NIV)

I love yarn.  It's a sickness really.  The Yarn Studio in Casey is my Happy Place. Just walking in the door makes me feel better.  It's weird, I know.  How can one be so drawn to yarn? I have no idea, but I am.  I love to pick them up and feel them.  I love to imagine how they would look as a hat or mittens or a sock (that I would never finish).  And that reminds me, sock yarn is sooooo eye-catching. I see the sock yarn table and it's all I can do to walk away empty-handed.

What brought me to this post - I was opening up an e-mail from some Knitting blog or shop or something I've signed up for telling me I could have a free trial subscription to a magazine and the cover this month was a big burly sheep.  Ugh, why would you put a big burly sheep on the cover of a magazine that isn't about the farm?   I started cracking up because then it hit me.  Duh, I love that sheep.  THAT ugly sheep is how I get to enjoy beautiful yarn!

Lane has been studying metamorphosis and I was helping him with his homework the other night.   Imagine a caterpillar.  They're not necessarily ugly, but I don't normally look at a caterpillar and think, wow, that is a beautiful caterpillar.  When the caterpillar is full grown and stops eating, it becomes a pupa. There is absolutely nothing cute or pretty about the pupa. This pupa stage in the process can last a few weeks, a month or even longer. It may look like nothing happens during this stage, but major things are going on inside.  And then suddenly, a beautiful butterfly appears.

It made me think of how God uses all of us for something.  The good, the bad and even the ugly. The Christian band Gungor has a song called, "Beautiful Things" and part of the chorus is 'You make beautiful things, you make beautiful things out of us.'

So often we put too much stock in how someone or something appears on the outside.  We like to see pretty, we love to touch soft, nice things...but sometimes even something ugly has the potential to transform into something absolutely beautiful and eye-catching.  A transformation or metamorphosis has to occur within us to become that something beautiful.  A heart for Jesus - is something beautiful no matter what the outward appearance.

"Beauty is skin deep, but ugliness goes clear to the bone."  Ouch.  How true that can be.  There is a lot of ugliness in this world.  It is our job as Christians to let our light shine that beauty He created within us onto the ugliness of this world.

There are times I can be as ugly as a big ole burly sheep, inside and out...but I know that he is still using me for good.  I just need a little tune-up on the inside every now and then.

Or maybe I should've been a sheep, created to produce endless skeins of soft, gorgeous yarn.  Sing with me now, I just want to be a Sheep, Baa, Baa...

Prayer & Persistence

Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this story: "Suppose you went to a friend's house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread.  You say to him, 'A friend of mind has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.'  And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, 'Don't bother me.  The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed.  I can't help you.'  But I tell you this - though he won't do it for friendship's sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence..."  Luke 11:5-8 (NLT)

I've always heard people say that teaching a Sunday School class or youth group is the best way to learn, and I totally agree.  Last week it was my turn to do a devotional for our youth group on Wednesday night.  We started out this year with a Duck Dynasty devotional with five topics.  We were ready for the third session, Ravenous Prayer.

They referred to a parable in Luke that I believe I've read before or skimmed over once or twice because I recognized scripture before it and scripture after it.  I do not believe I had ever given much thought to the parable in between.  And it was one of those texts that totally confused me.  I read it, reread it in a different translation and then read what the Robertson's had to say about it.

It clicked.

Jesus was telling the people to pray ravenously, so-to-speak.  The neighbor wasn't going to get up and get the bread because the man was a friend knocking on the door.  He was going to get up and get the bread because the man would not quit knocking at his door.  Persistence paid off.  Jesus tells us, also, to knock on the door over and over and over again.  Never give up.

(Hmm, has this parable been downloaded into our children in the form of persistent whining?)

The Robertson's talked in their devo about how they don't just pray for a meal on their table (i.e. killing wild game) and sit on the couch, they go out and do something.  I love that.  We can't always sit idly by and wait for things to happen, sometimes we have to get out there and go for it.  And with prayer, God will help us in that 'hunt.'

Be persistent.  Ask for anything and everything.  God will listen.  He will either answer the prayer or send you out to get it.

In the middle

Last week on my way to work, I was listening to the local Christian radio station and they said shared this,

When you're down and out, feeling like you're at the end of your rope, really you are in the middle because God is our ending.

 I

love 

that.

Yeah God.

LOVC Champs!

Last week our Varsity volleyball team won the conference tournament championship.  It sure was an exciting night, even though I had to miss the game (that is another post).

The fire trucks met the bus and the caravan of fans out at the gas station and paraded us through town with the lights and sirens in full swing.  The fan caravan followed with horns blaring and hazard lights flashing.  It was just like old times.

As usual, I wonder if some of the girls really 'get it' like I do.  Way back when, it was a common occurrence for us to win, win, win.  We won conference tournaments, regionals, sectionals, holiday tournaments and play-off games on a regular basis.  The Bluestreaks were alive and they were a serious threat to the area rivalries.

Driving through town Saturday night in all the hoopla, I saw the mother of a girl I grew up with standing on her porch in her bath robe, with her hands in the air, cheering and waving.  She knew exactly what was going on.  I loved it.

In the tournament play leading up to the championship game, our girls had to dig down deep for their victories, but they did it.  They didn't self-destruct or get down on one another, which sometimes happens.  They pulled together and fought hard.  And they won.

Our volleyball program has had successful, winning seasons over the last several years, thanks to a year-round, starting-at-the-grade-school-level, commitment from the coaches and players.  It takes hard work, dedication and lots and lots of time and practice to succeed.  Not just in volleyball, baseball or basketball, but in life.

Maybe things are cycling around, like we have been hoping they would.  A winning spirit is contagious just like a losing one can be.  Seems like we've lost for so long, that many Bluestreaks have forgotten how to win.  I see that in adults too.  They get caught in the rut of 'losing' at life, and they forget to press on.

I sure am proud of our girls, who have made the commitment, over the last four years of their lives, to play like champions.  They have worked hard to reach this point and deserve their success.  One starting player posted the day after their big win about being a Christian athlete, playing your best for Him and giving Him all the glory, win or lose.  Can there be a better lesson learned here?

I hope to post bigger and better things as the season progresses.  Regardless of the final win/loss record, these girls are building on their character and integrity through these experiences and they are going to be winners in the game of life.

Lucky girl

'Tis the season of Football games and Tp'ing.  They go hand-in-hand, almost.  Saturday night we were at Lane's playoff football game.  Madolyn was in the grandstands with her friends.  She bought some M&M's and took out her bottom retainer to eat them.  Put it in her hoodie pocket.  And then...

Let me digress a moment.  Madolyn had retainers in grade school, braces for 18 months (just got them off in August) and is back to wearing the retainers.  The bottom ones all the times, the upper only at night.  For now.  We have been all over her about wearing these retainers because her teeth are beautiful...and it wasn't cheap.  We don't want them moving back into their prior position.

Now, back to the story...  After the game, Jay had promised Mad he would take her and some friends out tp'ing after the game.  They dropped me off at home and away they went. 

I was sound asleep when the tribe arrived home, but of course, that didn't last ten seconds.  Mad came in and told me all about their adventures, and, uh, that she could not find her bottom retainer.  Snap.  I was as alarmed as I could be in my stupor, told her to check her pockets, look in the car, etc.  She had told me she remembered taking them out when she went to eat the M&M's at the game.  I told her we should look in the bleachers, where she was sitting and then went back to sleep.

Sunday morning came, she was still stewing about the missing retainer.  Jay and I told her she would be footing the bill on this one.  She agreed that was fair.  We went to church and then later ate lunch at Jay's parents.

As soon as we were done eating, she asked if I would take her up to the school to search the bleachers.  Off we went.  As we got out of the car, I whispered the prayer, "God, if we're meant to find them, let us find them." And honestly, I was still pretty skeptical.  They had left the game and been all over creation.  That tiny clear plastic piece with a wire could be almost anywhere between the bleachers and Neadmore corner.

We forged ahead.  Mad took to the top of the bleachers where she was sitting with her friends and I started at the bottom of the steps.  She quickly announced it was no use, to which I replied, "You give up way too easy. Keep looking." 

All of a sudden, she says in the most matter of fact, calm voice (much like the "big mouse in your bedroom" comment from two weeks ago), "I found it."  

Lo' and behold, there it was.  She was so relieved.  Her first words were, "Why am I so lucky?"  I said, "Did you pray about it?"  "Yeah, I did, last night."  "Well, so did I as soon as we got out of the car."  

She told me later it wasn't even about having to pay for this one, she was scared her teeth would shift while waiting for a new one to be made.  I am glad she was concerned.  Hopefully, she'll be a little more careful with it from now on.

I don't chalk this one up to luck.  The power of prayer is awesome.  I'm so thankful our god hears even the smallest of cries.  

Back in the day

Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.  The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, and on all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands.  Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you.  Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.    Genesis 9:1-4 (NIV)

This weekend was spent running here and there with our kiddos and their friends.  It's exhausting, but we wouldn't have it any other way.  It was great family/friend time.  As we were dropping one of the extras off and near the area where the old slaughter house used to be, a conversation started.

Jay and I told the kids that when we were in 8th grade and taking the Intro to Ag class, we did a unit on the various cuts of meat and took a field trip to the local slaughter house, where we experienced the entire process.  From start to finish.

Like, everything.

Live cow.  Dead cow.  Skinned cow.  Cuts of meat.

I think back on that now and can't even believe that was a school-approved activity...but I'm thinking of it in terms of present day.

Back in the day, it's what we did.  There wasn't much discussion about it because, after all, that is the natural process of what goes on between the cow standing in the field and the hamburger or steak we eat.  Plain and simple.

We are meat eaters and accept that that is the process.

We are also Christians and believe that animals like a cow, for instance, were created by God to nourish our bodies.

I can only imagine what kind of chaos would ensue if this field trip were suggested today.  We must protect our kids from these horrific images - you know, the blood, the guts, the gore.  It could cause real psychological damage.

But it's okay if they watch gory movies and play bloody video games because they're only pretend.

Oh, how I wish sometimes we were back in the day...

Contentment & Attitude

I'm not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.  Philippians 4:11-13 (NIV)

I've always been a big believer in having a glass-is-half-full type of attitude.  If you focus on the negative, you will become consumed with the negative.  If you focus on the positive, you're always hopeful.  I still believe it.

All of us need an attitude adjustment every now and then.  This Spring I was forced to give myself one.  I was becoming consumed with negative thoughts of my job.  I was bored to tears and very frustrated with the fact that it suddenly occurred to me I was about 25% court reporter/75% secretary, and more importantly 85% bored.  I have nothing against secretaries or if I was one 100% of the time, but I went to school to be a court reporter.  I went to school to type really fast on my shorthand machine...not to answer the telephone, with a majority of the phone calls intended for another office within the courthouse, and not just to sit here and look busy.  I was drowning in this revelation.  And it was really getting me down.

We had our annual court reporting seminar in April and I got to hang out with my former circuit girls.  I literally puked out my frustrations with them and others.  And I don't know if it was that exercise, spewing from my lips to people that understood how frustrated I was, that finally did it or what, but on the way home, it clicked that I had two choices.  I could either accept my current position, the good and the bad, and change my attitude about it, or consume myself with pity and dread coming to work every single day.

I'd also been struggling with painful arms, shoulders, neck, wrists and hands.  For some reason, I suddenly made the connection.  If I was doing more of my actual court reporting work, I am not sure my upper body could take it.  For real.  Could I even handle being 75% court reporter?   If I get what I want, I may not be able to handle it physically.  Duh.

It was like God was telling me:  Sarah, shut up and do your job, the one I have given you.  I put you there, I know what is best for you.  Just be content with the situation and find the good.

So, here I am, content with the situation as best I can be.  I have a very good job with stability.  I am fortunate to at least being doing a little of what I enjoy and went to school for.  Some are never blessed with such an opportunity.

None of us know what tomorrow holds.  I don't know if my body could take the physical demands of being a full-time court reporter anymore.  But I can do the job I have right now.  After the change in attitude and outlook on the situation, I'm fully content (well, almost) with the situation at work.  (There's always room for improvement: see glass half-full rationale.)

And my goodness, when I look around outside my own little box, I can see many folks who have a lot to be depressed about.  Wouldn't they love to trade me for just one day of my 'frustrations'?

The definition of contentment is: the state of being happy and satisfied.  Our outlook on life and attitude has such a powerful hold over the joy in life.  It is mostly within our control.  Today, I choose to see the good.  Today, I choose contentment.

Plugged in

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.  The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.  Romans 8:5-6 (NIV)

This summer, whether packing for our family vacation, church camp or even a weekend camping trip, the number one main concern of all parties involved is, Do we have all the appropriate chargers?  Everywhere we go, we have to make sure we have all the chargers and power cords.  It's like going down a checklist:  Ipod charger?  Check.  Cell phone charger (X3)?   Check.  Nook charger?  Check.  DS charger? Check.  Adapter for car?  Check.  Camera charger?  Check.

Good.  Grief.  Could we bring a few more chargers with us?

What about clothes, snacks, towels, swim/beach stuff, etc?  Those are afterthoughts.  First and foremost on everyone's minds are the stupid chargers because, God forbid, we are stranded for even 30 minutes without a charge.  Seriously.  And it's not as if we don't have back-up devices for entertainment.  Madolyn's phone does almost everything, but if it would die, she could switch to the Nook or my Ipad.  Lane has an Ipod, but if it dies, he has the DS.  Jay's phone does lots of things, so if my phone would die, I could just use his, it's better anyway.

Last year, I noticed that our cheerleaders were plugging their phones in along the wall in the gymnasium during our ball games.  Ridiculous.  Completely ridiculous.  I wasn't the actual cheer sponsor so I didn't feel like I could bark at all the girls, but I did bark at mine.  No way are you going to charge your phone at a ball game, during the game, along the wall in the gym.  No. Way.

When Madolyn is invited to go somewhere overnight, the very first thing she asks me to bring is her phone charger.  It's not a toothbrush, clean underwear, clothes or shoes...it's the precious phone charger.

It would not surprise me one bit if in the future there aren't outlets in our children's school lockers.  Not for cell phones, but someday I believe all the schools will have Think Pads or some other notebook for their students and do away with text books.  And what will all of those devices need?  Power. An outlet for a charger.  I can't remember who I was talking to about this, but we laughed and then realized it wasn't so funny.  It could really happen and probably will.

Go to an airport and take a look around.  You will see adults, as well as young people, sitting (on the floor) within two feet of an electrical outlet.  All over the place.  And they even have actual charging stations in airports now.  All over the place.  They're almost always full.

Do you think we're all a little too plugged in these days?   Watch and you will see, anxiety and panic set in if a battery dies without a charger or power within reach.  Lane has a complete meltdown if he realizes we don't have a charger and we're on a long car ride...even if he has a full battery to begin with.  You see, his mind is already whirling over the impending drain of his battery.  It is ridiculous.  He is consumed by the dread of a dead battery...instead of enjoying what time he has with it.

Everywhere we go, the most important item on the top of the list is a charger or power cord.  Borrowing an old slogan that seems to fit - "Your charger - Never leave home without it."

I'm not sure how we backtrack now.  It's such a normal way of life anymore.  And honestly, at times I'm as bad as my kids.  If I forget my cell phone at home or my battery is about dead, I feel like I've been stranded or I'll miss something...it is like a dark cloud over me until the problem is resolved.  I don't like the way it makes me feel, but I have been a willing participant in getting myself to that point.

I bet God wished we were this attached to our bibles...and this devoted to scripture...to Him...to our church...to serving and loving one another.  Thankfully, we don't have to search for an outlet or have the right power cord to be plugged in with God.  He never needs a charge.  We do.

Going back to the basics

Just a follow-up to my 2014 perspective on Adam & Eve.  As I continued to read on in Genesis, I was struck by the simplicity (but very strong message) of that story and how it could be so pertinent in today's culture.

God told Adam (and Eve) not to do something, but they did it anyway and guess what?  They had to pay the price for it.  It wasn't pretty either.  What had been set up to be a life of perfection was now...pain during child birth, shame, soil filled with weeds, hard work and pain.

I saw someone post something on Facebook similar to this:  We put a dog down when it bites a human, causing injury, pain and suffering.  Yet, when a human does the same thing...

That is a pretty harsh statement maybe, but stepping back and thinking about it, hmm, it kind of makes sense.  Have we lost sight of a very simple concept?

Maybe we should go back to the basics.  If you do something wrong, you face the consequences.  Stop blaming someone else and take responsibility for your actions.

And I think to myself, Oh, if only it were that easy, and yet, maybe it is...

Adam & Eve with a 2014 Perspective

Most of us know the importance of the story of Adam & Eve and the forbidden fruit.  God put Adam & Eve in the Garden of Eden and specifically told Adam... And the Lord God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it, you will certainly die."  (Genesis 2:16-17)

Pretty clear instruction, wasn't it?  And what did Eve do?  She let herself become convinced by the serpent that eating the apple would make things clearer to her...and boy, did it.

Now, let's put this scenario into a 2014 perspective...

God places Adam and his companion in the garden, tells them specifically what not to do, and they do it. They are immediately ashamed and face the music.

Most certainly God is to blame for this and should be sued for their pain and suffering.  It is God's fault that Eve disobeyed because God put that pretty red apple right in front of her.  He should have known she would not be able to fight the temptation of eating it and the consequences she would face as a result.

I'm thinking that, as a direct descendant, I could even sue God for pain and suffering.  How about we make it a class action lawsuit.

Makes perfect sense, don't you think?

IT won't happen to me.

And now what are you waiting for?  Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.    Acts 22:16 (NIV)

Last night (Sunday) before bed, Jay tells me to take my cell phone with me to bed, which I usually do anyway when he is working.  He said there were some nasty storms brewing to the south and he would call me if the kids and I needed to take cover.  Honestly, I was freaked out a little.  But really, what are the chances anything will hit us?  It won't happen to me.

Thankfully, and I say that with a twinge of guilt, nothing headed up our way, but as I watch video and read stories of the devastation in the south, my heart is heavy for those people.  Many thoughts are swirling through my mind:  Why them?  What did they do?  Why don't those people move out of tornado alley? Where do you start?  What could I do?  I can't even imagine...

I think of the phrase, "I never thought it would happen to me."  Does anyone ever think IT will happen to them?  You can make the IT whatever you want: cancer, a car accident, a tornado, devastating illness, the death of a child or spouse, house fire, etc.  No one ever thinks IT will happen to them.

I'm sure that there were some tornado warnings and that most people heeded those, but how many times have they heard those same warnings, took cover and nothing happened?  Probably more than they can count.  Some won't even pay attention, thinking, it never hits us.  But, what if this is that time IT hits?

I'm not sure I could stomach that roller coaster honestly.  My first instinct would be to move far away, to a safer area, but where would that be? You can't run from all dangers.  And what if your entire family were in that area, that was your home, you owned a business, etc?  Can you just pick up and leave?

The Bible gives us many, many 'torando' warnings.  Do we pay attention to them?  Are we ignoring them because we don't think IT will happen to us?  Are we waiting until later to change our ways?  Are we trying to find a safer place to run to?

As always, the one and only safety net is Jesus Christ.  I do not know how or when I will leave this earth, but I do know where I will go from here.  I sure hope to see you there.

Listen to the warnings.  Get your emergency kit (salvation) lined out.  Do not wait until IT hits.