Sometimes Quiet Isn't Right

Okay. I am mad. It is okay to be mad as a Christian. Do you think Jesus was happy when he entered the temple and saw business deals going down in His Father's House? Do you think he tipped those tables and cleared the economic strife with gentleness and joy? I bet he was fuming. And folks, I am there. I am fuming mad. And I don't often beat around the bush. It is time for us, as Christians, children of God, and followers of Jesus Christ to get busy.

Yes, the people voted. And yuck I don't like the result. But I know that God is in control and He allowed this to happen. 

Why? Some may wonder. 

Why? Some may worry. 

Why not? 

Why not? Have we grown complacent, stagnant, and stuck in our Christian walk? Did He need to do something to rattle our cages? To call us to action? Perhaps He saying...

"Get off your duffers and do something. 

Say something. 

Quit quibbling about nonsense. 

Put your money where your mouth is. 

And where your heart is. 

Stand shoulder to shoulder with your brothers and sisters. 

To be the shining light, you need to turn on your light people!"

Sometimes I set aside any possible writing eloquence and quietness, but I have never been one to fall short of sharing what is on my heart. Sign this petition. It is a must. Look, life is at stake. You can and you must join together to let our voices be heard. Please do not support FOCA (Freedom Of Choice Act). Have you taken the time to read what that so-called "freedom" legislation will do? It is bad news. Please read it.

And then go ahead and read this. Now, don't you want to do something?!

Sign the petition here.

Off the subject, sort of, well, not really... You know, lately I have struggled with wanting to have a new look for my blog. I have perused sites with free background, and even ones where you have to buy the lovely blog scenery. Hello. What does it really matter. I mean, what does it really matter? I think, if more folks read this blog, then maybe more would be called to action. Maybe more would seek God's direction in their life. Maybe more would ask God into their heart. That would be wonderful. Worthwhile.

But how do I do it in a way to reach folks, but also retain my integrity and continue my walk with God?

Here is my dilemma. Who runs and owns this blogging site? Hmm, we sign in to a google account to blog. Who runs youtube? Who pulled videos that showed and told the truth about our president's stance on the right to life? Blogger.com - YouTube - Google. Lately, I have a hard time putting my words here. In this place that is so liberal. So against God. And righteousness.

I know, I am one of those sticklers. I don't shop at the French-owned store chain that supports gay & lesbian causes, doesn't allow the Salvation Army to set up a money kettle, fired a friend for his time away from work due to his duty & service for our country...(yes, they have a red & white bulls eye). 

I don't shop here. I don't eat there. I don't read this. I don't watch that. I am one person. Taking a stand.

My stance is solid. My stance is sound. My stance is with God. I may be trudging along against the tide. The "good ole boys" may be putting up road blocks. My path may get steep. Friends or even family may drop back from me. I may walk the journey alone. Or with a few others. 

I know that when I get to the end of the road, I humbly can bow before God. And ask that He remembers my stance.

Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Matthew 7:13-14 (New Kings James version)

Nothing But A Child

Right smack dab in the middle of chaos and uncertainty is where a lot of us are walking today. Economy woes. Political propaganda. Spiritual lies and deceit. Health calamities. Religious rigors. 

Whatever your chaos, It may be a path you etched out yourself or one that you embarked on due to unforeseen events. However you and I got here and with whatever baggage we drag along, we are here. We are walking.

Today marks a sad day for many as the anniversary of Roe v. Wade. There is so much on my heart regarding this topic. I try only to write what God directs me to pluck out on this keyboard. When I have to sit  and struggle and juggle the words, I stop. It is coming from me, not my Father. I wait for His filter to be firmly set in place...

My son is not feeling good today. A fever reddened his face, tired his body, and sucked the energy right out of him. So we sat and watched a movie. A new movie we bought at Christmas time. Oh, I do believe it could be my favorite movie, Christmas or otherwise. It is akin to reading a story. It isn't cluttered. It isn't noisy. It isn't crowded. 

During the movie, beauty in the form of strummed instruments and a rough voice touched my heart. My soul. The words sang to my heart. On this day especially...

Nothing But A Child is the song.

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey is the movie.

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski is the original book.

I love the song. 

I adore the movie.

I will wait anxiously to buy the book.

Nothing But A Child. Oh, so powerful. So healing. So precious. So wonderful.

A gift from God, indeed.

Nothing But A Child. Two meanings this day.

What's On Your Plate?

I have dished-up, chewed, and swallowed my daily dose of blogs. I eagerly anticipate what my favorite blog writers have to say. I hunger for insight, encouragement, lessons, beauty, hope, and sometimes even humor. Something I noticed this Monday in its early daybreak hours is that no one has mentioned Tuesday's event of epic presidential proportions. 

Why? I wonder.

As Christians perhaps we are in a state of mourning. Mourning the loss of more babies. Mourning the loss of freedoms. Mourning the loss of man-n-woman marriage as righteous. Mourning the loss of a president who turns to God for leadership. Mourning the loss of a first lady who also leans on the Almighty.

I know, I know, the people voted. The tally is in. I am not proud of the outcome. 

My heart is broken. Right in half. 

I admit, at times, I feel fear creeping in to sit at my table. I kick it out and make room for God. I admit, at times, I feel discouragement lurking about in the shadows, near the flickering candle light. I shine His spot light right into the dark places and let His glow brighten my room.

Instead of sulking around with a down-turned mouth and soured heart, what are you going to do, my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ? I said, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?!

Give money to the local pregnancy center? Protest outside of Planned Parenthood? Adopt a baby? Write and call your leaders to let them know of your outrage & disagreement for the Ammunition Accountability Act? Buy up some bullets before July? Keep voting for marriage between a man & woman as acceptable and normal? Work on your own marriage to keep it strong in these hard times? Pray for the incoming President? And his wife? 

If you don't like what you are given to chew and swallow, do something about it. You can gripe about what is on your plate or you can fill it full of nurturing, sustaining Bread & Life & Love. Then when you have heaped your plate full, pass it along and fill up another. And another.

And for heavens sake, don't take this day and make it a day of mourning, make it a day of Revival! Let your voice be heard. As I Aspire to Lead a Quiet Life, I am also called to stand up for what is right and righteous. I am called to put others first. I am called to pray. I am called to be the Light in the dark. 

Now, I am not going to roll in the oil of obnoxious, but I will sprinkle The Salt. I will share my warm, nourishing pieces of Bread. 

But what about those who don't know where to sit? What about those who have never seen or heard about the Invitation to dine with God? Will you let them order from a menu full of lies & darkness & death? Will you stand by as an eye-catching, ear-tickling sinner poisons your neighbor, your store clerk, your friend, your family?

I, for one, am preparing a big ole platter full of Revival. After all, it is in-season. And there is enough to go around. I hope it is on the menu at your house too. And not just for today's fare. But for tomorrow. And next week. And next month...

I will eat. I may even lick the plate clean. No matter who sits in the big white house in Washington, I will feast with My Father. I know I have a place at His table. 

My daily inspirational reading today from The Beauty of God's Blessings landed right in the middle of my plate. God is so good. He knew what I needed this day to nurture and nourish my soul. 

"Why do we expect ease as our due? The Bible is filled with people who struggled, and many who died for their faith. Jesus Himself said that our lives as Christians would be difficult. God fills our lives with challenges, not bonbons, because it is the challenges that bring us closer to Him and ultimately bring us joy."

~ Leslie Williams of The Seduction of the Lesser Gods

Refrain your voice from weeping,

and your eyes from tears;

for your work shall be rewarded.

~ Jeremiah 31:16

A Friday Pondering...

Why cannot I be more like them?

Sitting. Calmly.

Happy hearts.

Reflected in smiley faces.

Despite sitting on hard, wooden places.

TVs and Tables

Oh, oh, oh, in about one month from now all tv transmissions will be HD. Hurry, order your coupon, get your box. Such urgency. 

We have an old tv. It is a big bulky monster. Definitely not a flat anything. And being country bumpkins, we use rabbit ears to see our two partial channels. One is pbs. The other is a major network. We average about 1 hour of tv a week. And after the appalling election coverage by mainstream liberal networks, the ole tv started to make me sick anyway. 

While dusting behind the beast last week, I knocked some chords loose. I am not techno-savvy. I stood there holding the black snakes and wondered what went where. And how I would re-attach it all without pulling out my hair. Suddenly, as if In a fit of freedom, I yanked and pulled, and then gently turned the antennae cables--righty tighty, oh there it is, lefty-loosey. I cut the chord so to speak.

Gasping. Jaw-dropping. Forehead-wrinkling. Head-shaking.

Wondering why I didn't do it sooner.

We are not living in a cave, nor are we ignorant of our world and its goings-ons. We still have radios. We can still read print media. And we still have internet. 

Part of leading a quiet life, means cutting out extra "noise" and extra "insults" and extra "junk." So that is what I did. Even when we watched snip-its of the evening news, we were bombarded by noisy, insulting, junk. My son doesn't need to see underwear commercials with scantily clad women. Nor does my husband for that matter. I don't need to see the newest-latest-greatest gadget-n-gizmo for cleaning. I know how to use soap and a sponge.

So, with no fanfare and no complaints from husband or son, we are no longer plugged in to the box.

Another component of leading and living a quiet life puts the meal table at the center of the family. So much more ought to be shared than forks scraping, spoons scooping, bowels passing, and tummies filling...

Last night we had dinner by candlelight. 

The roses my husband gave me for my birthday adorned one side of the table. 

Our son the other side.

Soft piano worship music played in the background. 

God's Word was read aloud. 

Questions were asked. 

Questions were answered. 

Time was shared. 

Hearts were opened.  

Tummies were filled.

But so were souls.

And our Father presided over the entire feast. 

We ate food prepared by my hand and my son's.

But we feasted on His Word.

Together.

Birthday Gifts

My birthday. Is it really mine? I should think not. It is God's. He gave it to me. He gave me to my mom and she birthed me right into the middle of Montana 30-something years ago.

Amidst our chaotic life full of change and challenge and character-building, I awoke this morning and thanked God for another day. Then it dawned on me, much before the dawn actually broke the blackened skyline, it is my birthday. Ahh. I started to talk to God...

Lord, this year, please help me to, err, please give me. Wait a minute.  Hold it. Is it about me? I think not. Let's try again...

Lord, this year, what can I give you? You give me so much. You pour blessings upon blessings upon me. They mound up. They pile up. So, what can I give you?

He reminded me of Christmas Day when my husband, our son, and I sat on the couch in the darkness, with only candlelight breaking the darkness. We talked about our gifts to Jesus.

My husband: My gift will be helping others. I will help those who need help. 

~ He plows, clears fallen trees, gets people un-stuck from their winter driving mishaps, he calls church members to see what they need, he picks up groceries & drops them off, he does and does and does. He gives his gift of helping others already, but I understood the importance of his gift this year. Despite the whirlwind encompassing our current chaos, he will find moments to be there for others. To bring others a God-given taste of calm amidst their calamity.

My son: My gift will be obeying. I will be more obedient, mamma.

~ Oh, what a heart for the Lord. This boy already gave his ultimate gift to Jesus a couple months ago when he accepted the Lord as his personal Savior. I know the heavens where whoopin' it up that day! Even he recognizes that with all of the changes and challenges of living without daddy every other week, his mommy may at times find her wits-end more often than usual. As we talked about what his gift means, he wants to obey his parents, but he also wants his obedience to be to God.

My self: My gift will be being. Being? Yes, I will be the wife and the mother God wants me to be. 

~ Oh, this won't be easy. Selling our home, finding another home in a new place, leaving friends & our church family, and saying good-bye to our serene country setting, will likely drive me to the brink. In fact, I have already taken a ride or two. But when I am at the edge of my sanity-patience-strength-grace, it is there that I fall to my knees. Being the wife and mother God wants me to be--well, I do try. I do fail. Miserably at times. But whenever I fall, especially to my knees, He scoops me up, sets me upright, and focuses my heart. 

Even though our gifts to God this year will undoubtedly get their wrappers torn, corners dented, and ribbons tattered, God will still accept our meager offerings with open arms. He will mend the paper, push out the dents, and re-tie the ribbons. When we show Him that our whole hearts & souls are inside the gifts of helping, obeying, and being, He will look past any imperfections and see only the sparkling jewels within. 

Alternate Route

As a hiker on this path of Life, I try to plan my route in advance. I often ponder lots of possible routes, and with this very active imagination of mine, they abound and run rampant. After I corner a few of them, I determine my direction and any feasible obstacles, and then I set out with the needed gear. 

New beginnings, actual foot paths, open doors, or fresh starts within our own souls, all have one thing in common. The first step. Once en route, the other steps fall right into place. Common truths still ring my bell--the first step is the hardest. So here I go. One foot. The other foot. Step. Step. Step. Step.

Although my trail focus is different as my Life journey seemingly is taking an alternate route, my internal and eternal trail head remains the same. I am following my Lord. 

He is directing the very places where I trod. He is shining His light for me to see the way. His way.

Regarding the above photo...it is gray, it is foggy, and to some it may look ominous with that tilted, half-fallen tree. Take a closer look. See the brighter spot? Look right there where you cannot tell which direction the snowy road diverges. It is right there in that bright spot of God’s shining light that I will find my next step. I am readying my pack. Although I cannot tell from back here if I will veer left or veer right, I do know that God is directing me and my family on this alternative route. 

He will reveal our latitude and longitude. He is our GPS, not because His Global Positioning System is bigger than mine, but because God Plans Steps. The steps of my feet. It may appear to be an alternative route to me, but I can be assured that my path has never diverged from His Plan for my hike through this Life. 

Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,

      “This is the way, walk in it,”
      Whenever you turn to the right hand
      Or whenever you turn to the left. ~Isaiah 30:21 (NKJV)

 Show me Your ways, O LORD;
         Teach me Your paths.
 Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
         For You are the God of my salvation;
         On You I wait all the day. ~Psalm 25:4-5 (NKJV) 

Bad Hair Day...

Indy: bad hair day

Me: survival mode daze

Snow, rain, flooding, power outage, arctic air, burned my arm, nearly broke my hand, chores, chores, chores, nasty raccoon harassing the homestead, roads washing away, and hubby gone. 

Cowgirl-up. 

Get 'er done.

Five dollar fine for whining.

Don't have much time for writing. I am busy surviving.