Because little things are important...

I LOVE to take picture of my kids. I don't do it well, but do it regardless. I must confess though, I despise having my picture or any video taken. Well, before this week anyway. What happened to change my mind you ask? I'll be happy to tell you, in hopes that someone may learn the lesson that I did.

In order for me to explain I need to revisit the past. Sometimes these particular days seem so long ago, and other times seem like just yesterday. Growing up, I was very close to my grandparents (and still am, to the only grandmother I have left), they are such an important part of who I am today. They (along with my mom), taught me dependence on God, how to pray, that the Bible was to be my authority, character, integrity and what it means to really be a family, by loving unconditionally. Some days I'd give just about anything if I could speak to them one more time. To ask for a word of wisdom, or especially to hear my sweet "Grams" say, "Hey babe!" Because little things are important...

Fast forward a little. When Scott and I got married and started having babies, 3 years in a row, things became very busy. It was a whirlwind of sleepless nights, diapers, feedings and pacifiers. (I can't imagine what it must be like for some of my sweet friends who have twice as many as we do!) I think we must've been in "survival mode" for quite a while, it certainly felt like a jungle some days! I wouldn't have asked for it to be any other way. Those beautiful babies began growing and learning and moving (at the speed of light!) and I really wanted to cherish every moment. Because little things are important...

Finally, moving to this week. The kids and I have been doing some major cleaning. We're preparing our homeschool room for Aug 15th, the big day, school begins! We're also gathering items from all over the house in order to host a hopefully successful "one man's junk is another man's treasure" weekend. AKA a yard sale. (As a side note, I have begun to figure out that any "extra" storage space, just becomes a place for junk!!) Anyway, during this excavation of many items, we came across boxes of photos. The kids got a kick out of looking through tons of them. But just as we were getting back to work, we found valuable treasure. A box of home videos. It would have been very easy to put them aside until all of our work was completed, but instead we began to watch them. And have been watching them...for three days.

Oh what fun it has been to see their reaction to their faces and voices on the 'big screen'! I have been amazed at how many videos they want to watch, and how many they want to watch over and over and over again. There are videos of each of their births (ok, not ALL of it), birthday parties, holidays, special family anniversaries and get-togethers. Most of my favorites are while everyone is donning bed-head and pj's. :) I'll tell you we have laughed until we cried and cried until we laughed! Hours and hours of memories. "Living" proof of the heritage of love passed down to them through generations. Absolutely precious memories.

Then it hit me.....

This is all I have left of those sweet family members and friends that have gone on to be with Jesus. This is all that's left of my children as babies. The photos are great, but the video is priceless. OOOOHHHHH, to hear the sound of their voices! Brings tears to my eyes even now.
To hear the thrill in my mom's voice as she watches 3 of her grandchildren being born...
To hear my Granddad say, "Oh goodness me!"...
To hear my Grams in excitement over her favorite people and holidays...
To hear my brother-in-law share Scripture with us and challenge us to raise Godly children, as we dedicate each one of them back to the Lord...
To watch my sweet husband absolutely silly in love with his babies...
To hear Gracie's perfectly precious 2 year old lisp as she stands barefoot in the grass going through the list of names of all of our cows...
To hear my handsome Walker shout "Yee Haw!" in his black George Strait cowboy hat, while riding the bull his Big Daddy gave him...
To hear Jackson's amazingly adorable contagious infant laughter as he entertains his brother and sister...
To hear Scott's parents renew their wedding vows at a special celebration for their 50th wedding anniversary...

You get the picture.

So what is my lesson? Not wanting to participate in the pictures or videos is not only vain, it's downright selfish. These home videos have helped to resurface so many memories. Memories that have been buried under years of mostly survival and busyness. I pray that we will not only be more intentional in building the foundation of the love of God in our family and home, but also in building a treasure box of special memories for our children. And I pray you will do the same. Because little things are important...

Things Pondered....

I've been pondering this morning and type this from a heart, soul and mind full of wonder, and eyes full with tears of awe and gratitude. Words really can't express it, but maybe you can catch a glimpse...

His eyes, His eyes saw the beginning of time, yet opened the very first time in a humble stable.
His ears, His ears have heard the angel chorus sing, yet the sounds of animals welcomed Him to earth.
His hands, His hands created the vastness of the universe, yet formed the most delicate intricacies of the woman that would carry Him in her womb, the hands that would feed Him, teach Him to walk, the arms that would rock Him, the voice that would sing Him to sleep, the heart that would love Him. Wholeheartedly, more than anything, forever.

I can't imagine the moment the angel first appeared to Mary, what she must have thought, felt, to hear that she was 'favored by God' and would soon have a Son that would 'save His people from their sins'. I don't know which is harder to understand, the report from the angel, or Mary's response. Surprised, to say the least! She even asked "how can this be?". However almost immediately, she was willing to risk everything to follow in obedience. To say that life as she knew it would never be the same, is an understatement.

But fast forward through all of the rumors, disbelief, and closed doors she encountered, to the stable. Not exactly 'fit for a king', yet just like God to again, use the simple and common to make Himself known. Shepherds came from afar, and made Jesus widely known, and everyone marveled at what they heard.

But Mary, Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Especially during this Christmas season, I often wonder what all of 'these things' are? Perhaps in her mind she went back to the day she was cleaning house and had a heavenly visitor. Maybe she recalled Joseph's first response to the news. Could she be remembering the moment she first felt the Son of God move within her? Could she be wondering what the future really held for her son? "Save His people from their sins"? Oh how faithful she was, how much she had learned and how far she had come, yet little did she know...

Hard to comprehend, certainly. There are many things about God that are a mystery. Yet these are things I know...

His eyes, His eyes are watching carefully over me each day.
His ears, His ears are listening every time I call.
His hands, His hands. His hands reached down to the depths of my heart, my soul, my life, and life as I knew it has forever changed.

As much as I admire Mary for following in obedience and what she gave, it is Jesus Who gave ALL. Jesus came to the manger for one purpose, to give His very life to save His people from their sins.

It is Jesus who saved me from sin, death and the grave! I can not end this without asking, how about you, do you know Jesus? Not just know who Jesus is by the stories you've heard. Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? If not, I pray that this Christmas season, you will see Jesus in a new way, a personal way - by the way of the manger, the cross, and the empty tomb, as your Savior. For those who know Jesus, I pray that like Mary, in our heart we will ponder all of Who Jesus is and all He has done, and treasure Him. Wholeheartedly, more than anything, forever.

Occasionally, He Sends a "Sign"

God never ceases to amaze me, and I have to share. Some may think it's a coincidence, I would disagree to my grave. I know it was a gentle reminder from my Heavenly Father....

For a brief moment yesterday, I allowed discouragement to well up in my heart, and dwell in my mind. I took my eyes off of Jesus and put them on a particular circumstance, and began to weep. The reason I say that it was a brief moment, is because my Jesus only allowed a few tears to flow, before He helped me to regain my focus.

I was cleaning the kitchen as I was going back and forth between text messages and emails that burdened my heart and even frustrated me, and I began to weep. For a moment the "typical" questions ran through my mind: "But God???" "How in the world???", "Why can't???"... you know the drill. As I planned to just sit at the kitchen table and allow my pity party to be soothed by a cup of hot tea, my eyes met the eyes of another. As I neared the table the blinds on the window were open, and perched right on the ledge of the fence, there it sat, a bird. This wasn't unusual, as it seems to be a common place for various types of birds. They frequent this section of fence in particular for some reason. Most of the time they get nervous as they catch a glimpse of us through the window and our motions usually cause them to quickly fly away. But not this bird. It not only sat perched on the fence, it faced the window and stared at me! I was amazed that as I slowly moved, it's little head followed me, it didn't take flight. We've seen so many types of birds here, beautiful blue jays, cardinals, wrens, etc... but I'm embarrassed to say that I had to research this one. In my heart I automatically knew the type of bird, but of course I had to be 'sure', after all, I'm not an avid bird-watcher! As I tried to keep 'eye contact' with this beautiful creature, I quickly used my phone to research it on the internet, and there it was confirmed. Of all the birds we've enjoyed in our yard this was the first time I have seen, a sparrow. Oh, perhaps I have seen them before and just didn't realize it. How typical of me to possibly miss a perfectly good reminder of God's love for me, and His promises. But this time, He made it very clear.
The tears of discouragement quickly turned to tears of repentance as I asked God to forgive me for making a petty circumstance worth that much focus and emotion. Then tears of gratitude as I thanked Him for the sparrow, and how He used that tiny, beautiful creature to look me in the eyes and remind me that God always has been, and always will be, faithful.

Matthew 10:31 "Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows."

Sorrow in a Small Town or a Celebration?

The kids and I have been blessed to be "home" with family, but within the last week, my little hometown has had it's share of sorrow. I don't know why it seems that tragedy always strikes here 'in threes', but more often than not, it does. Car accidents, heart attacks, a prison sentence, a combination of events that forever change the hearts and lives of so many. Such sadness surrounding the details, if other choices would've been made perhaps some of it could've been prevented. I'm not in the least thinking with a judgemental heart! As a matter of fact, when things like this happen, I generally fall on my face and thank God for the MANY times He spared me, those instances that I'm aware of, and those that I'm certain I didn't see.
Perhaps the convicting part of this is coming to the realization that most of us don't live with a daily eternal focus. Most days we don't think twice about rushing to kiss our spouse and kids on the way out, or getting behind the wheel of a car. We don't typically wake up and ponder, "Will this be the last time I will see my son or daughter face to face? Will this be the last time I will kiss my husband or wife goodbye?" It's almost as if we either believe we are invincible, that it won't happen to me, or we don't want to believe that it could.
The truth is that God has a purpose and a plan in all things, (even what Satan means for evil) and I know this because not only does He promise it throughout His Word, He has proved it over and over again in my own life. I know that as a child of the King I don't have to fear these types of circumstancs happening in my own life. Please don't misunderstand, I'm not exempt from tragedy! Only God knows how and when He will call me home, but because of my personal relationship with Jesus Christ, Heaven is where I am headed. Heaven is Home. God can and will use the tragedy around us to cause us to examine our own lives. He will help us to see our heart, our actions and our words through His lenses, and cause us to repent and return to His perspective - an eternal perspective.
My prayer is that in and through the tragedies each of us, family members, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and acquaintances will greatly consider our own lives. Consider your relationship, or lack of, with Jesus. Consider what those left behind will remember about you. Consider the impact that you're making for the cause of Christ. Consider what will happen when you stand face to face with God.
When it comes time for Jesus to call me home, I pray that you won't find sorrow in a small town, but rather a CELEBRATION of the forgiveness, mercy, grace, goodness and faithfulness of God!

The Shepherd of Plenty

In this world where destruction abounds, anxiety builds and stress peaks to highest levels, there is a Way to have peace. The only Way, has a Name.

His Name is Jesus.

As our family learns to surrender everything to Jesus, we are sort of 'sampling' what Paul meant when He penned the words, "I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content". Please don't misunderstand, we are by far 'doing without', we are very blessed! It is in the lesson of contentment though, that I tend to find difficulty. Dissatisfaction and fear comes when I take my eyes off of Jesus, and desire 'things', or I begin to become overwhelmed with what I see going on in the world.

When the focus of my heart and mind is in the proper place, I have the proper perspective. I am very thankful that though we have no control over the happenings in the world around us, our family rests in knowing that circumstances do not dictate the joy we have in Christ! Paul didn't find joy in prison. Because you see, he had Jesus before he went into that cell. Rather he took the joy of Christ into jail with him, therefore joy was his constant companion!

That can be very convicting....
Joy in all circumstances? It's sometimes a difficult lesson to instill in our children, because the best (and worst!) way to teach, is by example. When I am tempted to complain, worry or fear, it is then that God brings a gentle reminder. In His mercy and grace, He reminds me of those verses in Philippians, and guides my eyes so that they are once again fixed on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of my faith. He helps me to return my heart to my Shepherd, who tends to me with care, and I am reminded He will meet my every need, and carry every burden. I pray our children will grasp this even in these early years, I pray they will learn it by example.

This morning, I was encouraged by these words from Annie Johnson Flint, perhaps they will encourage you as well:

The Shepherd of Plenty

"His love has no limit,
His grace has no measure,
His pow'r has no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinte riches in Jesus,
He giveth and giveth and giveth again!"

The Giver of LIFE, LOVE, PEACE, JOY and SO much more.... His Name is JESUS!