The VBS program we are doing this week is all about trusting God in all situations. It is amazing how impactful it is to over and over again say, "No matter who you are, or what people do or where you are,.... TRUST GOD!" As adults we should all be screaming Trust God on a daily basis. Perhaps if we were more like these little kids, trying to see who can scream it the loudest, we would trust God!
Today we were faced with a challenge. We needed a DVD that was part of the VBS program. It was the chatter dvd and we didn't have it. I called all the bookstores in the area and no one carried it. I looked on line and the best we could do was over night it and the cost would be 55 dollars and we would not have it for 3 of the 5 nights. That was not good enough. I was so hoping to find it. Needing to find it. I heard those kids yelling "Trust God!" and I said a prayer. I prayed for guidance. Then I decided to call everywhere. Every Christian bookstore within a days drive. I called Waynesville, and they did not have it, but they said their Franklin store might. I hesitated to call the Franklin store because that would be quite a drive, and I wasn't sure I had the time. I felt it was important to turn over every stone. So I called Franklin, they had it! I was so excited I asked them to hold it for me, but told them it might be late before I can get there because I was in Asheville, NC. The woman on the phone said," I am headed to the Waynesville store at lunch time. I would be happy to bring it to Waynesville for you. Would that help?" Wow what a wonderful blessing. In a matter of minutes after deciding to "TRUST GOD!" I had the dvd payed for and on it's way.
I really believe that living MtC must involve trusting God! So much of the (C), so much of the stress in my life is there because I am not willing to "TRUST GOD!" When I worry about the finances, or my home, my health, my family, I'm not trusting God! If I really trust Him! REALLY TRUST HIM! I can't imagine still having a life full of (C)! I don't believe the two can coexist.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Trying to get Caught up...
I am trying to get caught up with my blog posts. Thought I would get it done tonight.... had to talk with a girl who needed guy advise... So fun and entertaining. Will do more tomorrow.
288- Sunday... On the Road Again.
Sunday was the start of our last week of the Recruiting summer tour. We needed to be out the door around 9 am. I had to feed 8 college kids before 8:30 breakfast and then get out the door. I went to sleep last night planning the menu and woke up Chris with an idea.....
Chris bought a new back rest for his motorcycle and I had not had the time to take a ride with him to try it out. I knew he would like me to try it out and I so did I.... So my idea was to take the bike to Walmart and pick up the food needed to make a breakfast for Andrew and all his friends. We didn't need much but it would give us a ride and a few minutes together. Chris agreed and we suited up and headed out the door. It was a wonderful slightly cool morning and getting on the bike was so much fun. As we came around one of the corners there in front of us was the most beautiful sunrise. It was just a postcard moment! Chris squeezed my leg and told me how much he loved me and liked having me with him. I teared up.... I hate the leaving home days. Being with him on the bike, in the morning, seeing the sunrise, just us, talking through the helmet intercom system was so special. I felt loved by God, loved by Chris and assured that I would survive this day!
I really believe one of the most important elements to living MtC is to understand how loved by God I am. To not just know he loves me but to feel and experience His love for me. This morning I experienced His love, in the sunrise, through Chris and it gave me the strength to fight off (C) throughout my day.
Chris bought a new back rest for his motorcycle and I had not had the time to take a ride with him to try it out. I knew he would like me to try it out and I so did I.... So my idea was to take the bike to Walmart and pick up the food needed to make a breakfast for Andrew and all his friends. We didn't need much but it would give us a ride and a few minutes together. Chris agreed and we suited up and headed out the door. It was a wonderful slightly cool morning and getting on the bike was so much fun. As we came around one of the corners there in front of us was the most beautiful sunrise. It was just a postcard moment! Chris squeezed my leg and told me how much he loved me and liked having me with him. I teared up.... I hate the leaving home days. Being with him on the bike, in the morning, seeing the sunrise, just us, talking through the helmet intercom system was so special. I felt loved by God, loved by Chris and assured that I would survive this day!
I really believe one of the most important elements to living MtC is to understand how loved by God I am. To not just know he loves me but to feel and experience His love for me. This morning I experienced His love, in the sunrise, through Chris and it gave me the strength to fight off (C) throughout my day.
287- Sabbath a day to Reconnect
Sabbath was crazy busy, full to the brim with plenty going on. In the midst of the craziness I was aware of two things. One I miss being around Amy. She is such a dear friend and we never seem to have time together but today we had lunch at our house with just a few people....(30 to be exact!)... and the best part of the meal was spending time with my friend.
Second, I love entertaining, or having people at my house. I like feeding people and welcoming people and huge groups don't scare me at all!!!! It was an amazing day.
After a VBS program in the evening I was home to spend some time with Chris and pack up to leave in the morning. Chris and I headed to bed early, we were terribly tired and enjoyed being able to go to bed when needed. We still had a house full of the kids from camp and went to bed knowing we were going to have to get up and and figure out a way to feed everyone. I went to sleep planning for breakfast the next day.
Today I did struggle with wishing my house was more what I would like it to be. Today, I had moments where (C) started to be creep in, but I recognized it and was able to put it down and keep my focus on serving those around me.
Today my boy was sick. Very sick. He was throwing up and miserable. I will say this as much as I do enjoy being someone that can open her home to huge crowds of people I am so looking forward to some time with my man, and my kids where I can take care of them. No one else just them. I hated it today when my boy was sick and i had to leave him home and go to VBS. I wanted more than anything to stay home. I need some quiet time. Some boring time. Some time to just breath.
Living MtC today was difficult because of the business, the pressure of the tasks in front of me. However, today was a day mostly MtC because I was able to label it and let it go. I really found that today, when it started to creep in I must replaced it with the things I know I'm gifted at. Most of the (C) today was cutting myself down, so I would just focus not on what I can't or don't do, but what I am and have been willing to do.
Second, I love entertaining, or having people at my house. I like feeding people and welcoming people and huge groups don't scare me at all!!!! It was an amazing day.
After a VBS program in the evening I was home to spend some time with Chris and pack up to leave in the morning. Chris and I headed to bed early, we were terribly tired and enjoyed being able to go to bed when needed. We still had a house full of the kids from camp and went to bed knowing we were going to have to get up and and figure out a way to feed everyone. I went to sleep planning for breakfast the next day.
Today I did struggle with wishing my house was more what I would like it to be. Today, I had moments where (C) started to be creep in, but I recognized it and was able to put it down and keep my focus on serving those around me.
Today my boy was sick. Very sick. He was throwing up and miserable. I will say this as much as I do enjoy being someone that can open her home to huge crowds of people I am so looking forward to some time with my man, and my kids where I can take care of them. No one else just them. I hated it today when my boy was sick and i had to leave him home and go to VBS. I wanted more than anything to stay home. I need some quiet time. Some boring time. Some time to just breath.
Living MtC today was difficult because of the business, the pressure of the tasks in front of me. However, today was a day mostly MtC because I was able to label it and let it go. I really found that today, when it started to creep in I must replaced it with the things I know I'm gifted at. Most of the (C) today was cutting myself down, so I would just focus not on what I can't or don't do, but what I am and have been willing to do.
Saturday, July 7, 2012
286- I need to apologize!
It is almost midnight and our home is filled with music! Andrew is home from camp and he brought a whole bunch of friends from camp, seven to be exact. They are talented musicians so the evening was spent playing music and they are still going. It is an amazing way to start the Sabbath.
Well 41 weeks of blogging and counting. I have to say I see progress! Yesterday I was giggling, tonight I only spent a second or two thinking about my house, and have spent most of my time thinking about the guests in our home.
I have been praising God for all that these students bring. They are my sons friends and they are sitting in our living room praising God! What more could a mother ask for. Tonight at one point, Christian was playing the piano, Andrew was playing the bass and Becca was singing wonderful merciful Savior. It was powerful and so soul healing! After that song they were piddling around on other songs, Becca was sitting on the couch listening, at one point she had her eyes closed and she wasn't smiling. Andrew was watching her from across the room... then he very quietly set down his bass and went to the couch and sat by her, snuggled down and smiled at her while using his fingers to turn up the corners of her mouth. She laughed and then whispered something to him. It was a small little simple moment but it was a moment filled with love. He was watching her, loving her, and wanting to be close to her. It was quite a moment. Why? Seeing your little boy love such an amazing quality girl who also loves him and loves the Lord! Priceless. My cup is full to over flowing!!!!
So why title this blog, "I need to apologize!" Well, I have to confess, I spend much of my time in the summer guiding and directing the recruiting team and I find myself always being in the place of teacher instead of student. Well today I learned something from a student about letting go of (C). Today we were having worship as a team and I asked them to go around the circle and say something nice about each other. It is a worship I like to have often because it can help out with team building and bringing the group closer together. As we were going around the circle it came time for Luke. He got half way around the table when he came to Shannon. He said, "Shannon first I have to apologize....I was a jerk the other day when we were stranded by the road..." It was so powerful, he sincerely apologized for his attitude and then complimented her.
It hit me...one way to live MtC is to be willing to apologize. To be humble enough to say, "I was wrong." It changed so much within our group. After we were done complimenting each other I affirmed Luke for the apology and then proceeded to give everyone a chance to apologize and the entire group started chiming in. It was powerful!!!!!
If I want to live MtC I have to be willing to say I'm sorry. I have to be willing to acknowledge where I have gone wrong. Thank you Luke for the lesson!!!!!!!
I am going to bed with a full heart, I lesson learned and a hot husband :) Nite all!!!! Happy Sabbath!
Well 41 weeks of blogging and counting. I have to say I see progress! Yesterday I was giggling, tonight I only spent a second or two thinking about my house, and have spent most of my time thinking about the guests in our home.
I have been praising God for all that these students bring. They are my sons friends and they are sitting in our living room praising God! What more could a mother ask for. Tonight at one point, Christian was playing the piano, Andrew was playing the bass and Becca was singing wonderful merciful Savior. It was powerful and so soul healing! After that song they were piddling around on other songs, Becca was sitting on the couch listening, at one point she had her eyes closed and she wasn't smiling. Andrew was watching her from across the room... then he very quietly set down his bass and went to the couch and sat by her, snuggled down and smiled at her while using his fingers to turn up the corners of her mouth. She laughed and then whispered something to him. It was a small little simple moment but it was a moment filled with love. He was watching her, loving her, and wanting to be close to her. It was quite a moment. Why? Seeing your little boy love such an amazing quality girl who also loves him and loves the Lord! Priceless. My cup is full to over flowing!!!!
So why title this blog, "I need to apologize!" Well, I have to confess, I spend much of my time in the summer guiding and directing the recruiting team and I find myself always being in the place of teacher instead of student. Well today I learned something from a student about letting go of (C). Today we were having worship as a team and I asked them to go around the circle and say something nice about each other. It is a worship I like to have often because it can help out with team building and bringing the group closer together. As we were going around the circle it came time for Luke. He got half way around the table when he came to Shannon. He said, "Shannon first I have to apologize....I was a jerk the other day when we were stranded by the road..." It was so powerful, he sincerely apologized for his attitude and then complimented her.
It hit me...one way to live MtC is to be willing to apologize. To be humble enough to say, "I was wrong." It changed so much within our group. After we were done complimenting each other I affirmed Luke for the apology and then proceeded to give everyone a chance to apologize and the entire group started chiming in. It was powerful!!!!!
If I want to live MtC I have to be willing to say I'm sorry. I have to be willing to acknowledge where I have gone wrong. Thank you Luke for the lesson!!!!!!!
I am going to bed with a full heart, I lesson learned and a hot husband :) Nite all!!!! Happy Sabbath!
Thursday, July 5, 2012
285 - Tickles and Giggles....
I know.... I'm behind. I have several posts started and none finished this week. Being home I have been spending time with my man, going to bed when he does, or working just way too late. It has been quite a week. I will get caught up but today was so fun that I can't wait to post it.
So today was one of my days off. After some work, I was able to get lunch with Carolyn and it was such a joy. Friendship is such an incredible thing! After lunch we decided to go get some happy toes.
As we sat in the chair getting our feet grated, filed and buffed I was giggling. I couldn't stop! I giggled and giggled because I am so ticklish. Every scrape, every buff, was tickling so much I wanted to come out of my skin! Carolyn looked at me and said how in all the years we have been getting pedicures she never knew I was ticklish. How?
Well I have spent my whole life trying not to admit that I was ticklish. After all how many times do you see woman sitting in those chairs giggling with tickles. Not often. In fact I don't think I have ever seen someone just out right giggling. Well guess what...... today I was FREE enough to giggle. FREE enough to not worry about what everyone else was thinking of me... FREE enough to giggle with tickles, giggle and giggle! Oh how amazing to be that free!
I can't believe it has taken me this long to giggle through a pedicure, but today I was living MtC enough to freely giggle.
So today was one of my days off. After some work, I was able to get lunch with Carolyn and it was such a joy. Friendship is such an incredible thing! After lunch we decided to go get some happy toes.
As we sat in the chair getting our feet grated, filed and buffed I was giggling. I couldn't stop! I giggled and giggled because I am so ticklish. Every scrape, every buff, was tickling so much I wanted to come out of my skin! Carolyn looked at me and said how in all the years we have been getting pedicures she never knew I was ticklish. How?
Well I have spent my whole life trying not to admit that I was ticklish. After all how many times do you see woman sitting in those chairs giggling with tickles. Not often. In fact I don't think I have ever seen someone just out right giggling. Well guess what...... today I was FREE enough to giggle. FREE enough to not worry about what everyone else was thinking of me... FREE enough to giggle with tickles, giggle and giggle! Oh how amazing to be that free!
I can't believe it has taken me this long to giggle through a pedicure, but today I was living MtC enough to freely giggle.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
280- There's no place like Home!
This post was posted a couple days late because I am home and have been spending every possible moment with my husband, my daughter, and my friends.
So Sabbath morning we spent at the Boughmans, with delicious breakfast, a worship time, and then a fixed shuttle, lunch and then we started home. It was a wonderful day of counting our blessings. We spent a lot of time reflecting on the pass twenty four hours. We remembered the prayers, the text that came to mind, the VBS chants, texts on our phones, the many ways we had seen and experienced God, and how thankful we were for it all. We had come through a difficult time and yet we came through fine, thanks to many, but thanks mostly to God!!!!
We had some concern about the tires on the other side of the shuttle. I kept thinking that I just hoped I would make it close enough to home, that if we did have another break down I could call Chris. I needed to be able to call him. I questioned why. Ernie had taken such good care of us, I could not ask for more! He left nothing undone! Rick and Chris had helped from afar! So why was I so hoping to be close enough to call Chris.
I thought about that a lot. I know the easy and pat answer is that I love him and that is part of it! But I knew that wasn't the only reason. I finally came to this conclusion....
There is something special, comfortable, known about my relationship with Chris. I know him, love him, trust him, feel comfortable and love being comforted by him! I have a history with him. I know about his follow through. I know because of our history, because of how he has loved me, because of how he has rescued me over and over, I know because I know his character.
So many times we criticize the idea of always or only going to God for things we need. I agree we should not only go to him for needs, but we should only go to Him for our needs. LOL!!!! OK let me explain. We should go to him with praises, we should go to him with our joys, and we should give him our heart... but we should never want to go anywhere else for our needs, we should never want anyone else to rescue us! I also know it should be that way because of our long standing relationship with Him!
The closer and closer to home we got the happier I was. I could not wait to be in my bed, to be at home with my daughter, with my husband. There really is no place like home! Today, living MtC was possible because I kept thinking of how God had lead us, how he had rescued us and how that is exactly as it should be.
So Sabbath morning we spent at the Boughmans, with delicious breakfast, a worship time, and then a fixed shuttle, lunch and then we started home. It was a wonderful day of counting our blessings. We spent a lot of time reflecting on the pass twenty four hours. We remembered the prayers, the text that came to mind, the VBS chants, texts on our phones, the many ways we had seen and experienced God, and how thankful we were for it all. We had come through a difficult time and yet we came through fine, thanks to many, but thanks mostly to God!!!!
We had some concern about the tires on the other side of the shuttle. I kept thinking that I just hoped I would make it close enough to home, that if we did have another break down I could call Chris. I needed to be able to call him. I questioned why. Ernie had taken such good care of us, I could not ask for more! He left nothing undone! Rick and Chris had helped from afar! So why was I so hoping to be close enough to call Chris.
I thought about that a lot. I know the easy and pat answer is that I love him and that is part of it! But I knew that wasn't the only reason. I finally came to this conclusion....
There is something special, comfortable, known about my relationship with Chris. I know him, love him, trust him, feel comfortable and love being comforted by him! I have a history with him. I know about his follow through. I know because of our history, because of how he has loved me, because of how he has rescued me over and over, I know because I know his character.
So many times we criticize the idea of always or only going to God for things we need. I agree we should not only go to him for needs, but we should only go to Him for our needs. LOL!!!! OK let me explain. We should go to him with praises, we should go to him with our joys, and we should give him our heart... but we should never want to go anywhere else for our needs, we should never want anyone else to rescue us! I also know it should be that way because of our long standing relationship with Him!
The closer and closer to home we got the happier I was. I could not wait to be in my bed, to be at home with my daughter, with my husband. There really is no place like home! Today, living MtC was possible because I kept thinking of how God had lead us, how he had rescued us and how that is exactly as it should be.
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