I am not yet finished with the book I am currently reading. It's one of thoses "savor and process" books. Each chapter stands on its own with enough for me to chew for a day or two. But today is a special day and this book makes me think about special people in my world.
The book is "Out Live Your Live-You were made to make a difference" by Max Lucado. It is written in Max Lucado's typical style of short chapters, great descriptions of Bible passages and stories about everyday people all wrapped up in a ribbon of "You won't soon forget this." The focus is on the early church in the book of Acts. It parallels how one small movement and one small group of people rocked the culture and nations of the day. He makes the point that God is still pushing us toward that today and wouldn't it be something if we all took those steps out of our boxes. One person can't do everything but what if everyone did something? Our homes, our neighborhoods, our nation and our world could not be the same. Simple acts and gifts can have eternal consequences. If you liked Crazy Love by Frances Chan, read this book too.
I love this book because it reminds me of my mom and her birthday is today. Happy Birthday Mom!
I don't think my mom would describe herself as giving. But it is one of the first words I would use to describe her. She would not like this but I am going to brag on her a little bit. For the past 2 Christmases my Mom has given to international relief organizations in each of our names. This past Christmas, she gave us the privilege of choosing the gift we wanted to give. I gave milk to babies, one of my kids gave sports equipment to kids, one of my nephews gave a water buffalo or something. So cool. When I think about babies getting the nutrition they need from my gift my heart fills. I so desparately would like to be able to hold and care for babies I know who starve and fight illnesses that are easily treatable here. I can't do that but through those gifts and my prayers a difference is made in their lives. My mom gave those gifts on behalf of the 30 something people (I have lost count) in my family.
I remember one year my mom brought my dad to help a lady put up her Chirstmas tree. I don't remember why she needed help but my mom saw a need and knew she could help.
My mom was a nurse's assistant at our local hospital while I was growing up. She went above and beyond when caring for people. She didn't just care about meeting physical needs but could give a kind word. She took care of countless newborn babies and so many mom's remember her fondly in those first days of their child's life. They knew she wasn't just giving care to those babies, she was giving love.
My mom has made each of the grandkids a baby quilt when they are born and a big quilt when they graduate from high school. These are treasures to her grandkids and some (I won't mention names, still sleep with their baby blanket) So sweet.
My mom spends many mornings at weekly breakfasts with friends she has had for years. She walks along side them as they struggle through the pain of getting older, losing their spouses and the pain of having children who have cancer. She has had friends longer than I have been on this earth and she continues to have room in her life for new ones.
My mom gives her time for her church and for a local thrift store. She loves both and is willing to commit hours of her time each week to them.
My mom has given her love, time and resources to her family (especially this daughter) and never once has she made me feel like I owed her any thing. The enemy has tried to tell me I do and that she will expect something but I know that's not why she does it. She gives because she loves. She gives and loves because she has been given much and has been loved much. She has a deep compassion for those who are hurting and it is not in her to ignore hurting people.
My mom gives everyday of her life. She is a beautiful woman. While she may not recognize it, what she does goes on farther than she knows. I know someday, Jesus will show her how all she gave has touched lives and the impact she made. She is a light and a blessing to me, my family and so many other people. I am thankful that I was able (through a few tears) to sit down and try and honor who she is today. Please consider this the hug I can't give you today. I love you mom! You are blessed!
Thank you Jesus for my mom. Hold her close, show her today how valuable, loved and precious. Bless her with many more wonderful years. "Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things,but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate."
joy
PS My niece Rianne also shares this day with my mom as her birthday and I am proud to say she is as giving as my mom. She has a passion for the those who are often forgotten today-the elderly, the deaf, the orphans. She has a heart for Jesus and loves to share His love. She has a beautiful light in her spirit. I love you too Rianne!!!
Friday, January 28, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
What I'm reading-"Heaven is for Real"
I was recently able to procure a few books thanks to a wonderful Christmas giftcard from my sweet in-laws. I love books and usually find myself in the throws of 2 or 3 at once. Some books want to be savored and processed so I am a little slow with them. Some are "I need to finish this book!" kind of books. For me those are usually other people's stories. I love it when someone else shares their story. It is so sweet when someone is able to look back and see God's fingerprints all over an experience even if they may not have felt it so strongly at the time.
So it is my goal to try and read a book at week and share with you if I think it is with your valuable time and dollars. Unless you go to the library, then it's free. I don't do the library. I am forgetful and oftentimes the fines would have bought me the book. I do love going to the library, I love being surrounded by the possibilities in all those books but it's not for me.
All of the books I mention can (and should be) purchased from your local Christian book store. Full disclosure, my sister owns one and I have seen that by supporting the store in your purchases you are also supporting a very real, valuable ministry for the people who come in there seeking. Another disclosure, I don't have a small, Christian bookstore nearby, just a chain store, which is good, but I don't get my books there because....yet another disclosure, I have a nook and read my books on that. When we moved I had to get rid of books because of the volume I like to have around me and that was awful. This way my little books are in one compact little place. Ok, onward and upward. :)
The first book in the recently purchased "stack" is "Heaven is for Real" by Todd Burpo. What I really want to do it tell you EVERYTHING about this book but then you may decide you don't need to read it since you know everything. This book excited me, comforted me and didn't just leave me wanting heaven but it gave real comfort that God hears us, Jesus intercedes for us and the Holy Spirit does a work in us here on earth.
Here's the summary. The story is about Colton Burpo who was 4 years old when he was having emergency surgery and at some point in the surgery he left his body and went to heaven. Todd, his father, writes about what Colton shared over the course of a 1-2 years after the experience. A few of the things he described where how he saw his father praying during the surgery, meeting family members who had gone to heaven before him, seeing angels and having tiny angel wings. That may seem like things a preschooler may think about but theres more. There's things that a preschooler would likely not have learned in their Sunday School-how Jesus has a white horse (Revalation 9), "rainbows "around God's throne (Revalation 4), the Holy Spirit who "shoots power down" on us.
While all of those things are awesome, the point that this book drove home to me is how children are so, so, so special to Jesus. I believe children, because of their innocence, have the ability to see things that adults don't. I remember almost 17 or 18 years ago, a sweet friend of mine lost her precious baby girl to SIDS. My friend's son was 3-4 years old at the time. One day when they were together, the little guy told his mom he wanted to go see his sister. My friend thought he meant the cemetary and told him sure they could go there. But the little guy persisted and said "No, I want to go to her house. I saw her and her house, it's beautiful." How many preschoolers know John 14:2 "In my Father's house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you."?
It is amazing to me that God used the words and experience of a 4 year old boy to make the concept of Heaven a reality, again in my and so many other's minds. So sweet, so beautiful. I highly recommend this book. You will want to tell someone else about it too.
blessings,
joy
So it is my goal to try and read a book at week and share with you if I think it is with your valuable time and dollars. Unless you go to the library, then it's free. I don't do the library. I am forgetful and oftentimes the fines would have bought me the book. I do love going to the library, I love being surrounded by the possibilities in all those books but it's not for me.
All of the books I mention can (and should be) purchased from your local Christian book store. Full disclosure, my sister owns one and I have seen that by supporting the store in your purchases you are also supporting a very real, valuable ministry for the people who come in there seeking. Another disclosure, I don't have a small, Christian bookstore nearby, just a chain store, which is good, but I don't get my books there because....yet another disclosure, I have a nook and read my books on that. When we moved I had to get rid of books because of the volume I like to have around me and that was awful. This way my little books are in one compact little place. Ok, onward and upward. :)
The first book in the recently purchased "stack" is "Heaven is for Real" by Todd Burpo. What I really want to do it tell you EVERYTHING about this book but then you may decide you don't need to read it since you know everything. This book excited me, comforted me and didn't just leave me wanting heaven but it gave real comfort that God hears us, Jesus intercedes for us and the Holy Spirit does a work in us here on earth.
Here's the summary. The story is about Colton Burpo who was 4 years old when he was having emergency surgery and at some point in the surgery he left his body and went to heaven. Todd, his father, writes about what Colton shared over the course of a 1-2 years after the experience. A few of the things he described where how he saw his father praying during the surgery, meeting family members who had gone to heaven before him, seeing angels and having tiny angel wings. That may seem like things a preschooler may think about but theres more. There's things that a preschooler would likely not have learned in their Sunday School-how Jesus has a white horse (Revalation 9), "rainbows "around God's throne (Revalation 4), the Holy Spirit who "shoots power down" on us.
While all of those things are awesome, the point that this book drove home to me is how children are so, so, so special to Jesus. I believe children, because of their innocence, have the ability to see things that adults don't. I remember almost 17 or 18 years ago, a sweet friend of mine lost her precious baby girl to SIDS. My friend's son was 3-4 years old at the time. One day when they were together, the little guy told his mom he wanted to go see his sister. My friend thought he meant the cemetary and told him sure they could go there. But the little guy persisted and said "No, I want to go to her house. I saw her and her house, it's beautiful." How many preschoolers know John 14:2 "In my Father's house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you."?
It is amazing to me that God used the words and experience of a 4 year old boy to make the concept of Heaven a reality, again in my and so many other's minds. So sweet, so beautiful. I highly recommend this book. You will want to tell someone else about it too.
blessings,
joy
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
New Years Resolutions to My Kids
Wow, a new year. I was still trying to get used to 2010 and all that it has held for me and my family. I did one of those "status collages" on facebook and I was pretty happy with what it showed. In the middle was God and Proverbs on the side (yay for wisdom!). All of my kids and husband's names were scattered through out. I was proud of that because part of what made this move so important was the recognition that what I said I valued and my actions were out of sync.
As part of a leadership class last year I had to write out my life story. I put it off as I felt like it would be painful to put to paper the parts of my life I was not particularly proud of. But the writing also helped me go back and remember those feelings of when my oldest was born and the very real, somehow forgotten feeling of "I was made to be a mom." As much as I struggle, as frustrated as I get, as big as my biggest failures in this category, I know that God made me for this in this time. He gave me these unique kids who need me as a mom and I need them too. So, in that, I decided to in my new years resolutions to do a little better as a mom. Knowing I will fall short, I still think it's important to make those resolutions. I also think it's important to tell others about it so here it goes:
New Years Resolutions to my Kids
1) I resolve to watch my words and how I say them. Scarcasm (and I meant to spell it that way) has to go. I resolve to replace them with encouragement or shut up until I can find it. If it gets heated, I resolve to talk to God before I talk to you. You may be suprised that sometimes I am so frustrated and angry I pray to be struck mute. But that doesn't happen so I will pray for an abundant measure of self control.
2) I resolve to see you as individuals and not just "the kids." I resolve to try and spend time alone with each of you in formal and informal ways. I recognize our time is limited and valuable. I resolve to not view these times with an agenda but to keep it open for what is important to you.
3) I resolve to remember that ultimately you are not mine but God's. I will keep this in the forefront of my mind when we argue, when I am disappointed in a choice you have made, when your pursuits are not necessarily what I would have chosen for you. I will remember He is doing a mighty work in you too and it is my job to not stand in the way of your victories.
4) I resolve to continue to love your Dad. Your dad is my hero, too. I will spend time with him with out feeling guilty because I am not with you. I will be there for you when you need me too. It is the best gift I can give you to have a happy marriage and happy dad.
5) I resolve to show you more this year how to give back to others. It may mean stepping out of our box. It may mean feeling a little wierd but it will be worth it. God has blessed us in amazing ways and now it's our turn to pay it forward. I know you guys have great ideas about how to do this and I know you see needs that I don't. Please share those with me.
6) Last but not the least, actually the most important. I resolve to take care of myself physically, spiritually and emotionally. More exercise, less caffeine. More Bible, less facebook. More retreating and refreshing, less going full bore every day. In doing this so I can better care for you. When I am more in the Word I am less fearful which equals trusting God which equals me yelling less because something feels out of control. I hope that makes sense.
I love you and my prayer is that even more this year that you see I love being your mom. I pray that anyone who knows me will know that my family is my biggest blessing. "I prayed for this child and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him." (1 Samuel 1:27) Help me to ALWAYS remember you are an answer to my prayers.
Love you guys,
mom
As part of a leadership class last year I had to write out my life story. I put it off as I felt like it would be painful to put to paper the parts of my life I was not particularly proud of. But the writing also helped me go back and remember those feelings of when my oldest was born and the very real, somehow forgotten feeling of "I was made to be a mom." As much as I struggle, as frustrated as I get, as big as my biggest failures in this category, I know that God made me for this in this time. He gave me these unique kids who need me as a mom and I need them too. So, in that, I decided to in my new years resolutions to do a little better as a mom. Knowing I will fall short, I still think it's important to make those resolutions. I also think it's important to tell others about it so here it goes:
New Years Resolutions to my Kids
1) I resolve to watch my words and how I say them. Scarcasm (and I meant to spell it that way) has to go. I resolve to replace them with encouragement or shut up until I can find it. If it gets heated, I resolve to talk to God before I talk to you. You may be suprised that sometimes I am so frustrated and angry I pray to be struck mute. But that doesn't happen so I will pray for an abundant measure of self control.
2) I resolve to see you as individuals and not just "the kids." I resolve to try and spend time alone with each of you in formal and informal ways. I recognize our time is limited and valuable. I resolve to not view these times with an agenda but to keep it open for what is important to you.
3) I resolve to remember that ultimately you are not mine but God's. I will keep this in the forefront of my mind when we argue, when I am disappointed in a choice you have made, when your pursuits are not necessarily what I would have chosen for you. I will remember He is doing a mighty work in you too and it is my job to not stand in the way of your victories.
4) I resolve to continue to love your Dad. Your dad is my hero, too. I will spend time with him with out feeling guilty because I am not with you. I will be there for you when you need me too. It is the best gift I can give you to have a happy marriage and happy dad.
5) I resolve to show you more this year how to give back to others. It may mean stepping out of our box. It may mean feeling a little wierd but it will be worth it. God has blessed us in amazing ways and now it's our turn to pay it forward. I know you guys have great ideas about how to do this and I know you see needs that I don't. Please share those with me.
6) Last but not the least, actually the most important. I resolve to take care of myself physically, spiritually and emotionally. More exercise, less caffeine. More Bible, less facebook. More retreating and refreshing, less going full bore every day. In doing this so I can better care for you. When I am more in the Word I am less fearful which equals trusting God which equals me yelling less because something feels out of control. I hope that makes sense.
I love you and my prayer is that even more this year that you see I love being your mom. I pray that anyone who knows me will know that my family is my biggest blessing. "I prayed for this child and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him." (1 Samuel 1:27) Help me to ALWAYS remember you are an answer to my prayers.
Love you guys,
mom
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