A Computer Fast

Remember last week when I talked about taking a fast?

God and I have nailed down the particulars.

Though many of you will not find your computer a daily necessity, I spend a LOT of time on mine and have decided to take a computer fast. I'm talking no blogging, no blog reading, no Facebook, no checking the weather or my kids' lunch accounts and grades, no e-mails, no communication via a computer whatsoever. Any work I normally do on my computer will conclude Wednesday evening.

Starting April 1 at midnight, my fingers will not touch this keyboard until Easter Sunday morning. I have written blog posts for Thursday and Friday and scheduled them to post automatically, so don't think I'm cheating when they appear. Don't take it personally if you e-mail me and do not receive a response. I will not see them and won't answer any messages until at least Sunday and probably not until Monday.

Some of you are wondering why. What possible benefit is there in shutting off your computer for a few days?

Sadly, I recognize my computer as something which binds me to the world of material things, as Ole Hallesby put it. I need to learn how to use the tool, not let the tool use me. My computer has too much importance in my life. I must remove the obstacle which tempts me to kill my morning moments reading blogs instead of reading my Bible. It's time to find my computer's rightful place in my day to day living. And I need to focus on Holy Week. I need to remember and be grateful, clearing away any distractions from Christ's tremendous sacrifice.

Is it possible to achieve this in a few short days? Maybe not, but should that exclude me from trying?

All to Jesus I surrender
all to Him I freely give.
I will ever love and trust Him.
In His presence daily live.

I surrender all.
I surrender all.
All to Jesus, I surrender.
I surrender all.

Catch you on Monday, friends.



Photo Credit: Lawrence OP

All the Time God is Good

As I walked in the door, I noticed my answering machine blinking. I pushed the button, expecting the standard "Call me back" kind of message. Instead I heard my dad's voice.

"The doctor called and said there were cancer cells in the fluid they drained off my lungs. I've got an appointment with the oncologist. Do you want to go along so we make sure we hear everything right?"

My breath stuck in my throat. What would we be facing?

“Faith saith not ‘It is good for me, so God must have sent it’,
but ‘God sent it, so it must be good for me.’”

Phillips Brooks

As tears filled my eyes, I exhaled.

Okay, God, I thought, one day at a time. Get us through.

The journey was difficult and ended in the worst way possible in my father's death, but I have to believe it was for my good. Those short months gave me much time with my dad, cultivating discussions we'd never had before, helping us come to an understanding we'd never had of each other. It forced us to say things we were to chicken to say before.

And Dad. . .he got to go to a better place--definitely for his good!

We don't have to like it. We don't have to understand. We only have to trust. If God is not good, how do we survive life on earth?

Join Kathryn at Expectant Hearts to see more ideas on this quote.

Eliminating the Obstacle

When I walk into a crowded room, I see are people who are stronger than me, people who know more, speak articulately and look better, people who laugh freely with others, whose kids seem perfect, people who appear to have mastered the art of adulthood with style and grace. I take in the scene and feel like a little girl. How can a woman of my age still feel so small?

I read in God's Word I am to be a light. I am to go out into the world. I am to be His witness, His ambassador. I'm supposed to represent Christ to the masses. How am I supposed to do that when I feel so inadequate? What is my problem?!

I'm an introvert. Introverts possess many strengths including humility, thoughtfulness, good listening skills, an ability to access a situation accurately, but it is also easy as an introvert to step back, to guard myself. It's tempting to disengage from others and say nothing, making myself stoic and unapproachable.

If I let those weaknesses have their way with me, I am ineffective. My introverted ways are an obstacle to being what God has called me to be.

I can't be a writer if I'm afraid to say anything.

I can't lead Bible study by sitting in the corner soaking in the words of others.

I don't pass along the lessons God teaches by smiling politely and offering nothing.

I have to eliminate the obstacles, those things which cause me to cower from my responsibilities to God. I have to throw off that which hinders.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Hebrews 12:1

Victory doesn't happen overnight. It's a process. Over the years God has gently nudged me out of my comfort zone, teaching me to put aside my introverted tendencies. I keep the good that comes from them--the listening skills, the intuition, the empathy--and push aside the fear of sticking my neck out, the fear of exposing too much.

When I throw off my hindrances, Satan can't steal my confidence. He tries. He whispers in my ear all the time, "Why did you say that? You should have kept your big mouth shut. Who do you think you are? People aren't responding to you. You're better off letting someone else handle that."

But greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world. I must fight Satan. My weaknesses have accompanying strengths God expects me to use for His glory. How can I say no?

God's given us exactly what we need to accomplish His plans, yet Satan convinces us we are not capable. He either tempts us to ignore our gifts or leads us into sin, distracting us from the task at hand. We remain ineffective, carrying around guilt and a nagging sense we don't measure up. But it doesn't have to be this way.

We can fight. We can throw off that which hinders.

What is your obstacle? What's keeping you from running the race marked out for you?

I challenge you to identify it. Fight the fear. Use the power of the Holy Spirit within you to throw it off, to eliminate the obstacle. Be bold enough to be what God intended you to be. Just say no to that aggravating sinful habit. Step out of your comfort zone. Push yourself, trusting God to take you where He's called you. Ignore the flutters in your stomach, your pounding heart and do what God asks.

Throw off everything that hinders.

Eliminate the obstacle.

See what He makes in you.

7 Quick Takes (Volume 75)

1) Kevin played for a wedding out of town last weekend. We didn't know the couple at all, only the bride's family, but we decided to make the most of it and turn it into a little weekend getaway for us. WOOT! WOOT! Hallelujah and Praise the Lord! Too bad we couldn't have taken a couple MORE days. I knew we were long over due for some time alone when Kevin said BEFORE we left, "I just know it's not going to be long enough."

This week we received a thank you from the bride's grandmother, praising Kevin's playing and thanking him for his part in making the wedding nice. And then she added this little ditty at the end.

"Tami, I'm so glad you could be there. You added to the beauty of the day."

Now isn't that a perfectly lovely thing to say?! I hope I can be that gracious with my words some day.

2) Drama Queen and I were having a pretty stupid discussion in my bathroom one night, comparing our bodies in completely inappropriate ways while Kevin laid in bed.

Kevin: What are you doing?

We ignored him and continued our pointless banter.

Me: I'm losing my boobs.

Drama Queen: Hey, my boobs may be as big as yours.

Kevin: Oh brother.

Me: I don't know. Let me see. . .No, I'm still ahead of you.

Drama Queen: Only because you've had kids.

Kevin: I wish you guys could hear yourselves.

Drama Queen: What's that, Peacock?

Kevin: Peacock?

Drama Queen: What are you squawking about in there?

She found herself quite hysterical and has continued calling him Peacock all week. As you can imagine, sound effects come along with the name. I don't think it's going to last long though. When she tried to use it on him last night, he got ticked.

3) Kevin and I are attending an opera tonight to see one of our former college kids strut her stuff. I'm VERY excited. Dinner, the opera, a little culture, a cute guy to share it with. . .what's not to like?

4) Today I'm going to Miss Innocent One's school where they're showing "the film." My poor daughter has heard for years about "the film" from her siblings and has it built up in her mind as the most embarrassing thing she'll have to face thus far in her young life. I keep telling her it's not a big deal (after all, we've already had the sex talk), but her brother shoots my assurances to smithereens with his offhand comments.

Ladies Man: Miss Innocent One, you know you're going to learn about guys too.

Miss Innocent One: Ew.

Ladies Man: I had to learn about girls.

Miss Innocent One: Yeah. . .

Ladies Man: It's important to know about guys' junk.

Don't ask me where he got this impression, but it was so significant he wouldn't let it go.

Miss Innocent One (looking nauseated): Yeah. . .

Ladies Man: You have to know about vaginas AND penises.

Miss Innocent One: Maybe, but I'd rather not learn it from you!

5) I hope I haven't upset anyone's delicate sensibilities using the big "V" and "P" words. Obviously, we've always just called things like they are in our house. It seems more sensible to use correct terminology than something as inane as pee pee. Of course that has backfired on us a few times, like when our three-year-old racked himself on some playground equipment during a Bible study outing and yelled across a crowded park, "I hurt my penis!!!"

Now I've said the "P" word twice. If some of you are hyperventilating, forgive me.

6) I watched a friend's baby for a short time this week. I wouldn't call myself a baby person. I don't have the urge to hold every infant I encounter like my mother-in-law does, but I really enjoyed my time with this little guy. There's something about interacting with a baby that reminds me of all that is pure in life. It's hard to worry about how to pay for new tires when you're holding a perfect, tiny little person in your arms. It's like touching a real life miracle. Spending time with this tyke soothed my spirit, reminding me how incredible God's work is.

7) You should know I always clear what I post here with my kids. When I hollered at Ladies Man to get his approval on number 4, Drama Queen was reading over my shoulder.

Me: Ladies Man, come here. I want to make sure I won't embarrass you on the blog.

Ladies Man: What is it?

Drama Queen: It's about your penis!

Okay, so now I've totally alienated you by using the big "P" three times. So sorry. I just couldn't help it. Give me a break. It's the weekend.

I hope you enjoy your weekend as much as I obviously need mine. Take a little time to peruse some other Quick Takes posts at Conversion Diary.

The Only Real Rest

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28

Come.

Learn.

Rest.



Photo Credit: RejiK

The Practice of Fasting

Fasting.

It's sounds so spiritual, doesn't it?

Let me lower my voice and stand a little taller then before I tell you I've fasted a few times in my life. Yeah, but don't be overly impressed. I felt it necessary, not to call myself spiritual, but because I yearned for a definitive word from God. Once He gave me a completely clear and exhilarating answer, but only once. I realize now the point in fasting is not to gain God's favor or revelations, but to rely on Him in a new way. Depriving yourself of a daily necessity like food forces you into reliance and weakens your spirit into compliance.

So you'll understand my fascination when I ran across this quote.

Fasting is not confined to abstinence from eating and drinking. Fasting really means voluntary abstinence for a time from various necessities of life, such as food, drink, sleep, rest, association with people and so forth. The purpose of such abstinence. . .is to loosen to some degree the ties which bind us to the world of material things and our surroundings as a whole, in order that we may concentrate all our spiritual powers upon the unseen and eternal things.

Ole Hallesby (Norway/1879-1961)

Is it any wonder this quote resides in my brain during Lent? I think not. Right now seems an appropriate time to fast from some necessity of life to concentrate on the unseen, to focus on the eternal, to better prepare myself to celebrate Easter. God and I are still working out the particulars, but I may give it a shot for a few days.

How about you? Do you desire a clearer focus on Christ this Lenten season? What necessity of life are you willing to forgo in order to concentrate on Him?

Victory Comes by Being Me

Don’t waste your life trying to fit into a “gift box” that feels too big or too small. Your God-given gift perfectly fits your personality and is your purpose and position to win victory.

My Prince Will Come
by Sheri Rose Shepherd

People tell me I think too much.

It's true. I spend inordinate amounts of time mulling over anything and everything. I ask questions ad nauseam, ignoring tasks I should attend to. I lay awake at night trying to figure out why God does what He does. I stare out the window, my mind chewing on thoughts and ideas, struggling to reconcile their importance in the grand scheme of life. Instead of accepting His plan, I ask God "WHY?" too much and kick myself for wasting time on matters only He can solve.

I read and think, listen and think, shower and think, drive and think, cook and think, sing and think, sit and think.

Never mind that others tell me to quit thinking too hard and overanalyzing things. Even I tell myself, "Golly, Tam, give it a rest!! Move on, girl!!" The practical side of me says I'm wasting time and energy.

Yet when I try to stop thinking so hard, I don't feel right. When life robs my time to ponder, I feel tense and agitated. My spirit gets anxious and I get crabby. Why?

Could it be God created me to be a contemplative person? Is it better to roll with it than squash it? So what if I lose a little sleep rising before my family does just to have thinking time? So what if the time spent does not produce answers?

When I reflect over my life (yes, I realize the irony in what I just said), I see the thoughts and questions I "waste" time on have caused me to seek God more fervently. My meditative nature brings me to the throne of Almighty God. I win. Big time. Yes, Satan can twist it and tempt me to dwell on things I shouldn't, but denying this part of me steals the very quality which keeps me coming to Jesus.

What unique quality has God placed in you? Don't fight it. How does God use it to mold you into His design for you? How can your gift bring you victory?


Join today's host, Debbie, at Chocolate and Coffee for more interpretations of this quote.



Photo Credit: gutter

Just Say No

Chocolate chip cookies cool on my kitchen counter and my taste buds crave a bite.

Just say no.

My kid uses tone and everything in me wants to let him have it.

Just say no.

My husband still hasn't taken care of a job I asked him to do months ago and I want to "remind" him yet again.

Just say no.

I'd rather veg on the couch than write a blog post.

Just say no.

Though I really should go to bed, I want to enjoy the quiet and play on my computer.

Just say no.

My eyes wander and I find myself deficient.

Just say no.

Temptations swirl about. The world tells us "You deserve a break today" and "You're worth it" and "Just Do It."

But when temptations hit we can't "Just Do It."

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

James 4:7

We have to resist.

Just say no.

Three little words. Incomparable training for our will. Using them causes the devil to flee and fills our spiritual reserves, giving us strength to make the next temptation easier to fight.

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

2 Peter 1:3-4

We can do it. Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.

Just say no.

7 Quick Takes (Volume 74)

1) Kevin, who is most definitely NOT a morning person, came downstairs on St. Patrick's Day wearing jeans and a cream-colored shirt. Ladies Man, decked out in green plaid shorts, a green t-shirt and a green sports jacket with a shamrock stuck in the pocket, immediately pinched him.

Kevin: OW! Don't pinch me.

Ladies Man: That's the rule. If you're not wearing green, you get pinched.

Kevin (spoken like a three-year-old who's been poked by his neighbor in preschool): Don't pinch me.

Ladies Man (laughing his head off): Sorry, didn't mean to tick you off. It's just the rule.

Two minutes later, Kevin walked up to Ladies Man and slapped him in the face.

Ladies Man: Hey, what's that for?

Kevin: It's a rule. If you're wearing too much green you get smacked in the face.

2) Ever since my mom hosted exchange students from Japan, my kids have this weird habit of eating popcorn with chopsticks.


(And yes, I'm still making popcorn, even after the "incident.")

3) Drummer Boy is home for spring break. Every time he comes home I think he looks a little older. His arms are getting thicker, his face more masculine. He's shaving more often and I swear his vocabulary is improving! (Kevin will find this humorous as I used to tease him about using bigger words when working on his Master's degree.)

After filling out that stupid census form, having a very mature discussion with Drummer Boy and seeing him look more manly, I felt sad at how life constantly moves forward, whether we're ready for it or not.

And then Drummer Boy left our adult conversation, snuck down the hall and screamed as loud as he could into Ladies Man's room trying to scare him.

I smiled. Maybe some things never change.

4) Whenever I call someone on the phone I always say, "Hey, whoever, it's Tami."

In the modern era of caller ID it's completely unnecessary to identify myself, isn't it? I kick myself every time I do it. I'm showing my age, huh? Yikes.

5) When I borrowed Drama Queen's camera to take my popcorn pictures, I found this shot of her at our nephew's wedding.


I LOVE the way her eyes just sparkle here. Most likely she's biting her lip to prevent herself from saying something completely inappropriate. So pretty and so much fun. Love you, babe!

6) Ladies Man told us a story he read on the internet about a guy trying to convince young people to consider the cost of joining the military.

Ladies Man: He talked about this friend who went to war and when he came back he started chopping people's heads off.

Me: What?!

Kevin: Chopped people's heads off?

Ladies Man: Well, I don't know if he did or he just wanted to, but the guy was using it as an example of how you shouldn't join the military without really thinking about it.

Me: Or you'll come home and chop people's heads off?!

Ladies Man: No. It was just an example. I don't know. It was something like that.

Though we found the story quite funny, Ladies Man did not and quickly got frustrated with us, so Drummer Boy changed the subject.

Drummer Boy: Have you guys seen The Book of Eli? It's about this guy who has the only Bible in a post-apocalypse world (see what I'm saying about his vocabulary--he just ripped this word off like he was saying "toast") and everybody is chasing him to get it.

Ladies Man: Are they trying to kill him? Does he have to kill anybody?

Kevin: Or does he just chop their heads off?

Ladies Man: Stop it!

Drummer Boy: He does chop somebody's arm off. Anyway, they get the Bible away from him, but it's locked up and they have to break the lock. When they finally get it open, they discover it's printed in Braille.

Kevin: Hey, someone with their head chopped off could still read that!

Poor Ladies Man couldn't take it. He left the room in a huff.

7) We tried to make it up to him by planning a little family time yesterday. Though his friends were headed skiing or to Florida, we took the fam to the booming metropolis of Lincoln, Nebraska (true confession--we were going anyway for an appt for Ladies Man).

We decided to make a day of it with the whole family, having a nice lunch together, maybe hitting a matinee, but nothing quite worked our way. There were no movies playing we wanted to see, so we got the bright idea of doing laser tag. Nope. No place open until 6 which was too late. Plan C was Champions Fun Center which everyone was stoked about until we drove into the empty parking lot which would not fill for another three hours. No one wanted to bowl, but we remembered an indoor miniature golf course out at the mall, so we headed there only to find it gone.

What could we do? We made the best of it and played in the "amusement park" at the mall.

Drama Queen sprung for the ride, so Drummer Boy drove.



Ladies Man barely got out of the chopper.



Miss Innocent One had the most expensive ride--lions, hippos and monkeys don't come cheap.



This guy gets my motor going--vroom vroom!



All in all it was a fun afternoon. We managed to get out of the park before mall security arrived, then rounded out our time with a visit to Barnes and Noble. As we say in our house, "It's all good."


I hope it's all good for you too, friends. Enjoy your weekend and take in some other Quick Takes posts at Conversion Diary.

A Prayer for Peace

O Lord, my God,
grant us your peace; already, indeed,
you have made us rich in all things!
Give us that peace of being at rest,
that Sabbath peace,
the peace which knows no end.

by Augustine of Hippo

I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid.

John 14:27

Popcorn Perils

Boy, oh boy, did I ever have a Monday morning. Amid the usual hubbub of making breakfast and signing checks for the kids (I swear all our money goes to school and Walmart), Drama Queen asked me to make some popcorn for her to take on a field trip. Now you must know that over the weekend I tried my hand at popping popcorn without the aid of my microwave and the kids LOVED it. Still fascinated at the "old-fashioned" way of making "homemade popcorn," Drama Queen, Ladies Man and Kevin formed an audience as I heated oil in a pan on the stove.

Feeling pretty proud of myself for my savvy cooking skills, ingenuity and ability to capture my family's attention on a Monday morning, I stood tall as I grabbed the bag of unpopped corn, ready to hear their oohs and aahs when gorgeous puffs of fluffy whiteness popped before their very eyes. Slowly I poured a layer of kernels into the oil when suddenly the entire bag's contents came rushing out the other end scattering all over the kitchen. ACK!!



Remember how I talked a few weeks ago about my tendency to melt plastic? Apparently when I poured in the popcorn, the bottom of the bag touched the edge of the hot pan, burning a hole.


Kevin, Drama Queen, and Ladies Man witnessed the debacle, but held their breath waiting for my reaction. With the exception of popcorn kernels tittering everywhere, the kitchen was dead silent. You would've been proud of me. I glanced at my husband who looked as if he was going to pop himself, his jaw clenched, his eyebrows raised in expectation of the explosion.

"I melted the bag," I said and started laughing. Once I did, everyone else joined along and breathing commenced.

The good news is the popcorn turned out great (my best yet!) and I got some good mom points. Look at it! Isn't it beautiful?!


Oh the lengths we women go to please our families (and give them a good laugh on a Monday morning!). Would you believe after all that I STILL made cupcakes last night for the same kid to take to school today?!

To use her vernacular, Mother's Day better be "freaking sweet" this year!

I Don't Understand

I don't understand.

My questions often get in the way of my faith.

Lord, why?
Why did you let my parents divorce after I prayed an entire life time for them?
Why do you bless some and not others?
What is the point of my father-in-law's accident?
When will you bring relief for my friend who loves you?
Why would you let a stroke steal my social grandmother's speech?
Why won't you intervene in difficult circumstances?
Why did my dad struggle to breathe for years and die on my son's birthday?
Why must we wait?
Why did you take that woman's husband in the prime of their lives?
What happened to my friendship?

The sense of God's ways eludes me.

I don't understand.

I turn to wisdom not my own
For every battle You have known.
My confidence will rest in You;
Your love endures; Your ways are good.
When I am weary with the cost,
I see the triumph of the cross;
So in its shadow I shall run
Till He completes the work begun.

When Trials Come
by Keith and Kristyn Getty

I don't have to understand. I need to trust.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.

Proverbs 3:5, 7-8

I don't have to understand.

I need to trust.

To read other takes of this quote, visit Jen at Scraps and Snippets.

Disagreement

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

Proverbs 27:17

I freely admit it. I'm a people pleaser. I hate it when I sense someone doesn't like me. Because of my people pleasing nature, I have a difficult time when someone doesn't agree with me too. My spirit stirs and I feel their disagreement personally. If you don't like my baby (in this case, my idea), you must not like me. Wah, wah.

Every week in Bible study we get into great discussions. And sometimes, like last week, I felt one woman challenging my thinking, not buying what I was saying or at least not relating to it. My insides lamented, "Well, she doesn't agree. She thinks I'm wrong. This will affect how she sees me." I'm not really sure why I felt this way. She was polite, listened carefully and did not belittle me in any way. She just didn't agree with me. I guess the little girl in me who wants everybody to like her thought a dissenting opinion nullified me as a person.

After study concluded, the familiar you-should-have-kept-your-mouth-shut feeling hounded me. I wondered if my thoughts and opinions changed the way others saw me. Would my Bible study friends find me ignorant or weak? Would they think less of me?

But God laid my fears to rest when the woman I thought may change her tune about me, came to me and said, "Tami Boesiger, I love you. I love how you think."

You have no idea how those words soothed me, friend (well, maybe NOW you do). You taught me it's okay to think differently and express varying opinions. We can love each other without subscribing entirely to the philosophy of the other. We can accept each other knowing God asks unique things of individual people. Instead of fearing disagreement, I should be excited about it as a chance to learn another viewpoint I haven't known. I should welcome the opportunity for growth in my own life from the challenge. I should delight in discussion arising from not seeing eye to eye. It makes me think. It forces me to back up what I believe. Such mature discussion truly provides for "iron sharpening iron."

I was challenged again later in the week through my posts about beauty (Outer Beauty is Important to God and More Talk on Beauty). Because of her comments, I knew a dear friend did not agree with me. My first thought was, "Oh, great. She thinks I'm off the deep end. Now she'll lose respect for me. " But then I remembered Bible study and thought, "No, let yourself be sharpened, Tami. Instead of worrying about defending yourself, really consider what she says. You might learn something." And of course, I did.

Disagreements, even those with our fellow believers, are not bad. As long as we do not take them personally, put ourselves aside for the sake of true communication, and sincerely listen to one another, they serve to make us better.



Photo Credit: Pedro Moura Pinheiro

7 Quick Takes (Volume 73)

1)
Yep, that's me and Hoss. He came to my house Monday to make lunch for all the boot camp participants. I had a super time getting to know him better. He brought and cooked the entire meal. This guy can do anything. Besides boot camp he also teaches dancing lessons at the YMCA. He told me he fixed a car the day before that had been sitting in his girlfriend's shed for years because no mechanic knew what to do with it. He talked about his fighting days as he showed me how to cut a strawberry to look like a flower, showing off his skills learned in culinary school. Hoss is truly a renaissance man!

I must admit I was very surprised at what he cooked for us though--a PASTA dish with chicken, shrimp and a combination of red and ALFREDO sauces. The topper was the CAKE he brought for dessert. When we balked a little about the cake he said, "Life is short. Live a little."

Thinking he must maintain a strict diet to look like he does, I asked him what foods he avoided. He looked at me funny and said, "Sour cream and mustard." He just doesn't like them!

"I eat a lot of french fries," he said, "I love Burger King."

I guess a guy can eat thousands of calories a day if you keep up an exercise regimen like he does. With a physique like his, you can't argue with him about eating french fries. Get a load of these guns! (And please ignore my cluttered kitchen--yikes!)


2) I felt sad while filling out my census form, realizing I couldn't claim Drummer Boy as living in my house. Then it hit me. The next time I fill out one of those forms I may not be able to claim ANY of my children as living in my house. Boo.

3) I have been SO TIRED all week. In an effort to figure out why, I got out my calendar to see what I've been doing. In addition to the normal rehearsals and activities around here, in the last five weeks we have gone to seven concerts or school activities in town, traveled out of town for events 8 times, attended parent/teacher conferences at three different schools, played for 4 rehearsals and 11 performances of Beauty and the Beast and celebrated Drama Queen's birthday. No wonder I'm draggin'!

4) Drama Queen and Drummer Boy wrapped up the winter drum line season last Saturday with a disappointing loss at their championships. I snapped this precious picture of Drummer Boy comforting Drama Queen afterwards.


I don't know if you can tell it or not, but her tears are starting to get to him. About ten seconds after I shot this, he lost it too. He loves his sister. It makes me tear up just looking at them here. We better move on.

5) I played Tami the Tool Girl Boesiger when I fixed our toilet yesterday. Yeah (sniff), it only took about ten minutes (let me hike up my pants a minute and rest my hands on my hips) to fix the sucker. Go ahead. Be impressed.

Someone needs to be. My husband wasn't. Pshht.

6) Though he didn't praise my resourcefulness, I'll give him an out. He's got a lot on his mind these days hosting the Homestead Choral Festival. If you live in the area and are looking for some culture Saturday night, wander our way.


7) Ladies Man wants to enter a design in a logo contest for a local festival this summer. He's got the drawing done, but couldn't figure out how to submit it. He and Kevin got on the website for our Chamber of Commerce, but found no information.

Kevin: I know the president. I'll e-mail her and ask her what you should do. (hiking up his own pants) I've got connections.

Ladies Man: I've got connections too.

Kevin: Yeah? Who?

Ladies Man: You and the lady at the chamber and the newspaper clipping about it.

Kevin: So basically you've got me.

Ladies Man: Well, you and the newspaper article, but you're probably a better connection. I can't lose you.


I'm calling it quits this fine morning, friends. Enjoy your weekend and take in some other Quick Takes posts at Conversion Diary.

More Talk On Beauty

I love, love, LOVE the comments I'm getting from yesterday's post, both here and on Facebook. Let me make one thing perfectly clear--GOD IS PRIMARILY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR HEARTS! I am not advocating that we spend inordinate amounts of time prettying ourselves up. I am only saying we should not neglect our outward appearance. Cultivating a gentle and quiet spirit does not give us an out in working on our temple of the Holy Spirit.

Let me reiterate yesterday's main point:

Outer beauty IS important to God, not as important as our hearts, but part of the total beautiful package He's created in each one of us.

I know speaking of beauty in this way is uncomfortable. I've struggled with it myself. I've seen how others are intimidated or write off a beautiful woman simply because of her looks. To my utter astonishment, I've heard too many times about my being “unapproachable.” I've wrestled with how to represent myself to avoid such misunderstanding. Is it more loving to “dress down,” to go without makeup or do the bare minimum with my body for the sake of others?

In my struggle to understand, my husband gave me some wise words. “Why would you say you shouldn't look your best because it might make others feel bad? You don't do that in any other area of your life. You would never say ‘I better not play my clarinet too well or someone might feel bad’ or ‘I better not be too prepared for Bible study so I don’t make anyone feel inferior.’ ”

I never want to be guilty of saying any part of my life is "good enough" for God. If I am not my best for Him (or at least working to be my best), I am not giving Him His due.

It feels weird to say I want to look good for God, but I do. I want to be all He has created me to be and part of His intent in creating me (OR YOU) is to reflect His beauty. FIRST AND FOREMOST we need to work on our hearts, our inner spirit, our relationship with God, the unseen, eternal part of us. THERE IS NO BEAUTY WITHOUT HIS TOUCH ON OUR HEARTS. But we should not neglect our outer self, the image and representation of God. We are the only part of God our fellow man will ever see.

We reap a major benefit from attending to our outer beauty. When we are comfortable in our own skin, it frees us to put our mental energy into more Godly pursuits. When I am confident enough with my outside I am more likely to pursue relationships, to speak up in a crowd, to act on the love of God in my heart. I personally have spent WAY too many years feeling inadequate, hiding myself away being self-conscious about my physical body. What has that attitude prevented me from doing for God? How much time have I wasted? Will I have to give account for that when I get to heaven?

There's a reason women want to be beautiful. It's part of our makeup, our innate knowledge. Just as we have an undeniable yearning to know God before we can even articulate it, we know we are meant to reflect His beauty. Cultivating beauty starts in our HEARTS, but we should not think our outside matters nothing to Him.



Photo Credit: prakhar

Outer Beauty Is Important to God

Caught you with that title, huh?

Christian women are taught that a gentle and quiet spirit is the only thing making us beautiful in God's eyes. I agree it is the foundation of true beauty, bringing God great pleasure. But if a gentle and quiet spirit is the only quality defining beautiful, explain something to me.

Why do all women want to possess physical beauty?

PLEASE don't tell me it's only me. What's with little girls wanting to be princesses and big girls making memories in beautiful prom dresses? Why do grown women swoon when their little boys say they're pretty and their husbands call them beautiful? Is the entire female population vain? Did Eve start a revolution biting into that stinkin' apple?

As an overweight teenager, I searched the Bible for answers about beauty. I delighted in 1 Samuel 16:7, "Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart," confirming my outside didn't matter as much to God as my big heart. But then I looked down a few verses to 1 Samuel 16:12 and saw God describe David as "ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features." If God is concerned about our hearts, why does it matter what David looks like?

Scouring my Bible for references of "beautiful" women, I hoped to find each possessed an inner quality to support their beauty. In over a dozen cases, I found an inner strength mentioned in only three. Why does God refer to their outer beauty at all if He only looks at their hearts? Why is it significant enough to mention?

Does God place value on our looks? (Don't worry, this made me squirm too.) Is this the reason we have this desire to be beautiful?

I say yes and here's why.

We are made in His image.
"From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth." (Psalm 50:2)
The Bible says He is beautiful. Should we not reflect His beauty?

God uses our outward appearance to attract others to Him through us.
God may be more concerned about our hearts, but we live in a world of people He expects us to reach.

Our beauty is a tool He uses to fulfill His plans.
Think of Esther. If she were not physically beautiful, she would not have been queen and the Jews would have been exterminated.

I don’t mean to completely confuse anyone here. Yes, we should be more concerned about cultivating a quiet heart than a knockout body, but too often Christians are lackadaisical in caring for their bodies, thinking it not important in God’s eyes. God expects us to do the best we can with the goods He's given us. We are to cultivate BOTH inner and outer beauty. Though it may not be popular, I’m taking a deep breath and saying it out loud.

Outer beauty IS important to God, not as important as our hearts, but part of the total BEAUTIFUL package He's created in us.

I've got more to say on this subject, but I'll save it for tomorrow. Be sure to check in again then.

What do you think? Is our outward beauty important to God?



Photo Credit: RejiK

Our Limitations, God's Opportunity

There’s somethin I learned when I was homeless: Our limitation is God’s opportunity. When you get all the way to the end of your rope and there ain’t nothin you can do, that’s when God takes over.”

Denver Moore
Same Kind of Different As Me
(co-written with Ron Hall, with Lynn Vincent)

In twenty-three years of wedded bliss, my husband and I BOTH worked full-time for only one year. Considering we married before we finished college and then bore four children a few years later, you can imagine we've never been "rolling in the dough."

Our first ten to fifteen years we never filled the gas tank in our car, only put in enough to get through the week. There were no line items in our budget for savings, entertainment or even clothing. We rarely ate out. The car breaking down or someone getting really sick caused a major crisis. Figuring out how to pay for Christmas brought added stress instead of joyful celebration.

I prayed a lot.

Lord, you know what we need. You promise to meet our needs. Help me trust You.

And you know what? We've never been hungry, never slept in our car. God supplied our needs in extraordinary ways--unexpected job offers for part-time work, gifts of clothes, enough meat to fill our freezer, cash, even cars! Our parents lived close enough to provide free babysitting often.

Not only did God meet our needs, but He threw in a little flair besides (Who says God has no style?!). We were able to purchase a huge house for nearly half its original selling price and fix it up cheaply with the help of my amazing father-in-law who knows how to do everything. God gave Kevin the opportunity to get a Master's degree. A part-time job he held provided free trips for him to Austria and England and my generous mother gave us the necessary funds for me to join him when he went to Italy. Grazie, Mamma!

You see? Our limitations are God's opportunity! Yet the real bonus is not the gifts we received, but the traits He developed in us along the journey. Kevin and I grew closer (there are definite advantages to having little money TOGETHER), taught our kids the value of a dollar without us lecturing, honed in us a spirit of humility (it's not easy to be on the receiving end of gifts, knowing you can never repay the gifter) and trained us to be grateful for all things, big or small.

Truly God is faithful. Why do we ever fear?

What are you facing this day, friend? What brings you to the end of your rope? Put your hope in God. Like a little child, expect the impossible, wait to see Him work.

. . .Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

Psalm 42:5

God is faithful. He can be trusted.




Be sure to visit this week's host, a blogger I hope to meet IRL someday, MiPa, at Miriam Paulines' Monologue.

Big News

Every time I commit words to my computer screen and post it here for all the world to see, I give up little bits of myself--personal thoughts, raw feelings, memories, confessions. People who read this blog get a peek into my private life. Sometimes I wonder if it is worth the sacrifice, if I give up too much.

I do it because God clearly told me to (Click here to read about that) and you don't tell God no. But I also pray people get a glimpse of the world through a different lens pointing them to Jesus.

It's difficult to know if I reach this goal. Kind words left by some of you help me know if I'm on the right track or not, but often I think I'm merely shooting arrows in the sky not knowing where they land.

But this week I received an e-mail saying this,

"Congratulations!

Every year Internet Café Devotions hosts Blessed Aroma, a call out to blog readers to nominate their favorite blogs, in specific categories, written by Christian Women. Those with the most nominations are compiled into a list that gives us the TOP 100 Christian Women’s blogs each year.

Your blog was chosen this year in the category of: “Cup Overfloweth Blog”. We hope this blesses you as much as you have blessed others!"


Someone must be reading!

I am touched and excited and honored to be in the good company of some other terrific blogs. Be sure to click over to the Blessed Aroma 2009 Top 100 List and find some amazing women of faith.



If you were a reader who nominated or voted for me, thank you. You did this tired lady's heart good.

If this wasn't enough, I received two other awards recently.

My dear sister-in-law, Jaime, nominated me for the Beautiful Blogger Award. She has a clever blog herself where she writes most everything in the form of a poem, getting you at the end with a good punchline every time. Check out Ditchin' the Kitchen.

And then a lovely woman I met through Blessed Aroma 2009 gave me the Happy 101 Award. Thanks, Joyful. Your kindness made me happy! Check out her blog at New Horizon Reviews.

So there's the big news in my little corner this week. All I can say is Soli Deo Gloria.

To God Be the Glory.

7 Quick Takes (Volume 72)

1) WE SURVIVED BOOT CAMP!

Barely.

Hoss lived up to his word making our last week grueling. My whole body felt the sting every day, even our days off. Thankfully, no one puked, well, not technically, but every session ended with us sprawled out on the floor and Hoss laughing, getting some sort of sadistic pleasure out of our misery.

But he told us from the very first day we would thank him and I must admit he is right. I do have to thank him for the new muscles I've never seen in my body before.

And the ripples in my husbands gut. Grr. . . Nice work, Hoss!

To show us what a nice guy he is, Hoss is making us all lunch on Monday. He hails from the Dominican Republic, so we're getting authentic Dominican food. I hear he is a tremendous and HEALTHY cook. We don't even have to feel guilty about what we eat! I can't wait.

2) Miss Innocent One had funky feet day at school on Thursday. It's one of those times a mother just has to nod her head and bite her tongue.


Yes, I let my child leave the house this way. All day. Nominations for mother of the year can be left in the comments.

3) Miss Innocent One gets tired of being patronized by her older siblings, but when she tries to combat their notions of her, they don't really listen. Case in point, Ladies Man informed her she didn't understand a certain slang word.

Ladies Man: You probably don't understand what that means.

Miss Innocent One: Yes, I do. I'm not an idiot. You were in 5th grade once too, y'know.

Ladies Man: Yeah, and I was retarded. That's what I mean.

ARG!!!!!! I stand ground on her side, but then I get accused of favoring her. As the oldest child in my own family, it's good for me to finally understand the disadvantages the youngest faces.

But don't tell Kevin, Mr. Baby-of-the-family-who-can-do-no-wrong, I said that, okay?

4) For all our married life, my husband has teased me about my propensity to burn hot pads. I grew up with a gas stove. When you shut it off, the heat's gone, you know? We've owned an electric stove since I said, "I do." Hot pads bearing the signature circles from being left on burners, litter our marriage, giving Kevin WAY too much enjoyment from pointing out my neglect. I thought I solved the problem a few years ago when we installed one of those glass smooth stove tops. No more burned circles! I was certain his taunting days were over until he pointed this out to me.

Now I melt plastic. Sigh.

5) Miss Innocent One made me proud when she hopped into the van after school yesterday.

Miss Innocent One: I don't understand why kids my age (11) are dating.

Me: What?

Miss Innocent One: When we were walking out of school, one girl told us this boy broke up with this other girl and now she's crying her eyes out.

Me: Really?

Miss Innocent One: Yeah. Why would you even date in 5th grade?

Me: I don't know.

Miss Innocent One: They're always going on about it--who's dating who and who dumped who.

Me: They're not really dating, are they? Do they spend time together outside of school or do anything together?

Miss Innocent One: I don't know.

Me: Hmm. . .kind of weird.

Miss Innocent One: Those people get all dramatic about it. It's stupid. I don't get it.

And I'm so glad you don't, sister. So very glad.

6) Here's Drama Queen shakin' things down in drum line. She's the snare player in the middle. So intense when she plays, I'd never get in her way when she's got a pair of drumsticks in her hands.


It took me a few years to get used to the "drum line face." They're supposed to look serious and tough. She sure knows how to do it. You do an awesome job, Drama Queen. We're proud of you!

7) This Saturday is the Drum Line Championships for Drama Queen and Drummer Boy. We're all pretty nervous. Our kids are the reigning champs for 5 years and face some tough competition gunning to take them down. Last weekend they got beat by 1.9 points. It's sure to be a nail biter kind of day.

I've enjoyed watching Drummer Boy lead the group this year. I know I'm slightly biased, but I think he's doing a great job. He communicates well with both the kids AND the parents, knows his drumming stuff and pushes the kids to do their best. People have asked what Drama Queen thinks of having her older brother as an instructor. This picture answers the question.


Don't you love how they look like they truly LIKE each other?! Makes my mama's heart all tingly inside.

That's all I got today, folks. Enjoy your weekend and some other Quick Takes posts at Conversion Diary.