Caterpillar to Butterfly

I took a walk this morning around my neighborhood, the sun was hot and the humidity was thick. Just another summer morning in Missouri.  I was trying out my new walking shoes and I think they are going to work out fine.

The best thing about morning walks is that it gives me a chance to pray and plan my day before I get distracted. The details of life haven’t crowded in demanding my time and attention. My mind is still shaking off the fog of sleep, the most complicated thought in my head is do I want a cup of tea or a glass of juice before I go walking.

This morning I noticed the butterflies. Small yellow ones skipped from flower to flower. I noticed a large Monarch right next to the road. I stopped and watched as it fluttered around a cluster of tall weeds. Landing, it paused to open and close its wings. I regretted not bringing my camera along. I watched it until it moved too far for me to see it anymore. I returned home and got my camera, knowing that the moment had passed but hoping I would see the Monarch again. I took pictures of the small yellow butterflies and the little orange and brown ones but didn’t see the Monarch. I was disappointed as I neared the edge of my yard, until I saw it flying at a distance. I waited with my camera at the ready but it never got close enough to take a picture. I marveled at the beauty of the life of that butterfly.

I thought about the fat caterpillar that spends its life crawling around in the dirt and leaves. It goes into the chrysalis stage of its life and emerges transformed into a new creation with a skinny body and beautiful wings that allow it to fly from flower to flower. How crazy would it be for that beautiful butterfly not to use its wings but continue to crawl around in the dirt?

There have been times in my life that I have forgotten that I am a new creation. Because of Christ I am changed. I have a relationship with the King of kings. I am not who I used to be, I am His child. I have the ear of the God of the universe if I will just go humbly to Him in prayer. I have the power of the Holy Spirit living in me. Through Christ I can do anything He has called me to do. But there are days I forget that I am a butterfly and act like I’m still that caterpillar in the dirt when I have wings to rise above my circumstances.

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”  2 Corinthians 5:17

I am a new creature altogether, my previous moral and spiritual condition is no longer a part of me. Today I was reminded that I am free to rise above my doubts and fears. I don’t belong down in the dirt with them. To remain in the dirt is to deny who I am now in Christ. So I’m spreading my wings, believing and not doubting. I’m trusting and not fearing. I’m living under grace and not guilt.

Continuing to count my blessings on Multitude Monday

71.  Lessons from butterflies.
72.  God's creativity in painting butterflies.
73.  Friends to share the hard things with.
74.  Taco salad.
75.  15 children who have a home going up in heaven because of VBS last week.
76.  A pillow to rest my head on at night.
77.  Sunday afternoon naps.
78.  Eyes to see and ears to hear.
79.  New walking shoes = no blisters!
80.  The sound of a dove in the cemetery.
81.  Peaches dripping from the trees.
82.  The first bite from the heart of a watermelon.
83.  Finding a new recipe to enjoy.
84.  Hugs from church family.
85.  Meeting new neighbors.
86.  Sitting on my front porch and watching the rain come down.
87.  Watching a turtle march slowly across my yard.
88.  Seeking wisdom for the hard choices in life from the source of all wisdom.
89.  All the things that are possible with God.
90.  The definition of possible: able to be done; within the power or capacity of someone or something.

Looking Back...Planning Ahead

Since the first schools opened their doors the tradition of back to school shopping has been part of the fabric of our lives. I wonder if Mary took Jesus shopping for items needed for his religious training. As the hot humid summer days of August would draw to a close we did our back to school shopping when I was growing up. I can’t remember ever starting school before the last week of August when I was in grade school. Today they are starting school by the second week in some places. There were four children in our family and we lived on a tight budget. As a general rule we didn’t do much shopping but there was back to school shopping we were allowed to be part of.

The notebooks, pencils, crayons, erasers and rulers were required items. I longed to have the 48 count box of Crayola crayons, or the ultimate choice, the 64 count box. Beautiful colors lined up in a kaleidoscope of possibilities with the built in sharpener right on the back of the box. I was glad when I graduated from the box of 8 and was able to get the box of 16 color options but was very envious of the kids with all the color possibilities at their fingertips.

In the fourth grade I no longer had to use the tub of paste with the combination brush in the lid and was given Elmer’s glue in the squeeze bottle. A friend of mine showed me that if you left puddles of glue to dry in the groove of your wooden ruler before you left for home then when you returned the next morning you had fake fingernails.

Back in the day - before back packs I carried a book satchel for the entire school year in second grade. It was red with a red and white checkered fold down flap that had two metal clasps to latch it to the front of the satchel and a white plastic handle. Very un-cool back then and definitely by today's standards. In our family, if money was spent on something than you used it- cool or not. I was so glad to get rid of that ugly thing and move on to the third grade without it.

Several of the kids at school had the pencil box that had the multiplication tables. At one end was a pencil sharpener, the lid of the box was also a ruler and had the multiplication tables on it. Mom never bought that for me either…she said I would memorize them and wouldn’t need that fancy pencil box. I am ashamed to admit that I never did memorize them.

To this day I have to count 5, 10, 15, 20, 25…to figure out 5x5=25. Math and I never seemed to hit it off. Needless to say my husband takes care of the finances in our household. When I have done them I am paranoid about making a mistake and not realizing it until the notice comes from the bank that we have insufficient funds. That hasn’t happened since our first year of marriage but the math phobia has stuck with me.


In the sixth grade we had colorful options when it came to notebook paper. I was able to buy pink and purple colored paper for my binder. It was wonderful until the teacher decided it was too hard on her eyes to read sixth grade writing on anything but white paper. There was some white notebook paper that had flowers along the margin where the holes were punched; I spent my allowance money to have some of that paper.  I think there must be an artist gene somewhere in the family line, my daughter has the same obsession with pretty paper and she is an artist.  We both go nuts at Michael's craft store when we shop the scrapbooking aisle with the beautiful printed paper.


I loved taking our kids shopping for school supplies every year. I felt like a kid again looking at the boxes of crayons, markers and paper. At Target they had huge bins full of school supplies. It was like School Supply Heaven.


One of my husbands all time favorite commercials is the back to school commercial from Staples. He would sing it to our kids.



School supplies are out at every store so now is a good time to stock up on items that you can use come November for Operation Christmas Child. Churches and schools collect shoe boxes filled with little gifts for children. We did this while we lived in New Mexico; it was a fun way for me to buy kids things when I had no small kids living at home. Something to think about while supplies are plentiful and inexpensive. Besides it gives you an excuse to feel like a kid again and shop for those back to school supplies.


Thanks to my mother-in-law for the idea for this post.

Simple Woman's Daybook

I came across The Simple Woman's Daybook on someone else's blog. This is a journaling exercise that takes a snapshot of what's going on in my day today, focusing on simplicity and the beauty of everyday moments.

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...someone is building a house across the street so there's a flatbed trailer on the street outside my window with the building materials required to start with the basement.

I am thinking...about 2 ladies who share a Birthday today...I get to go to lunch with one, the other is my sister-in-law and I got to visit with her a few days ago.

I am thankful for...today, it's a chance to begin again, a chance to be a blessing to someone.

From the learning room...I'm trying to be more aware of Holy Spirit working through and in me to impact others. 

From the kitchen...peaches waiting to be prepared for the freezer...then I'm making a dessert with peaches for supper tonight. yummm!

I am wearing...a teal t-shirt, black capris, black and white flip-flops. Threw them on to drive my husband to work.

I am creating...a prayer guide for this weeks prayer meeting.

I am going...get in the shower and go to a birthday lunch with ladies I work with.

I am reading...Forgotten God: Reversing Our tragic Neglect Of The Holy Spirit by Francis Chan.

I am hoping (praying)...the repairs to my husbands pick-up truck don't cost an arm and a leg.

I am hearing...the hum of the computer and the air conditioner running.

Around the house...laundry needs to be done, my craft closet is a mess...again.

One of my favorite things...the smell and taste of fresh peaches, wonderful in-laws who drove me around to buy peaches and waited patiently while I took pictures. 

A few plans for the rest of the week: Drop books off at the library, get some groceries, spend time on the phone with a friend living in another state.

A picture for thought I am sharing...from our back deck the moon rising as the sun set.

Have a wonderful day, thanks for taking the time to stop by.

He's Everything to Me

Music has always played a role in my life. As a child I listened to the music my parents listened to on the radio, or the record albums they bought and played. You remember record albums; they look like big black cd’s. That’s how a young teenage friend of my daughter described them several years ago during choir practice one Wednesday night at church. Every adult present burst out laughing.

My parent’s music was from the 50’s and 60’s. I remember mom showing us how to do the twist to Chubby Checker. I remember sitting next to my sister in the back seat of a station wagon, my legs not even long enough for my feet to touch the back of the seat in front of us, singing along to “Sugar Shack” playing on the radio. I was certain if I could visit the sugar shack there would be candy to eat which means the only line that caught the attention of my 3 year old mind was the repeated phrase “..to the sugar shack.”

Music is like a time machine that transports me to my past, memories flowing over me with each note. Some of the songs from the 70’s put me right back in a blue Chevy Malibu sitting next to my sweetheart singing along with the radio.

As I wrote my last post, listing some of the people who impacted my life for Christ, this song leaped from the dusty pages of my mind. When I hear it I remember the faces of those kids I sang with in our youth group. You may know it. Turn up the volume and enjoy.

I have felt the wonder of His grace! He is everything to me.

VBS

Tonight is the beginning of a week of Vacation Bible School at our church. The theme is “High Seas Expedition”. The transformation from your average church into the “sea” theme has been happening now for several weeks…months even. One of the halls we walk through to get from one end of the building to the other has been transformed into an underwater passage. The imagination of the organizers is amazing.

I didn’t grow up in church; it wasn’t until I was in the 7th grade that I began attending and learned about a Savior who died for me. I knew about the baby Jesus born in the manger but He never left the manger.  In my mind He was just another Christmas story.

Vacation Bible School, church camp, skating parties, youth activities, all those fun things that kids invite their un-churched friends to attend are important. We have to invest our time, energy and money into those kinds of activities. When budgets are tight and people are busy it may be tempting to scale back on activities or even eliminate them all together.

I’m a walking, talking testimony of the importance of programs that focus on children and young people. I was one of those youth who rode a bus, and later was picked up in a van so that I could attend church. The sacrifice of the people who drove, taught, organized, and led the youth and children may not have seemed to make any difference then, but God did not waste their sacrifice. My life is one of those that was changed because people gave of themselves.

Tonight a group of giggly, wiggly girls and loud and rowdy boys are going to descend upon a small church in small town America. They are going to sing songs, hear Bible stories, get crafty, devour snacks and play games. For some of them it will be their first encounter with church. For some it might turn out to be a life changing event in their lives. They will learn that the Son of God, Jesus, died for them a long time ago, that He loves them, and He wants to live in their heart. Some of them…maybe even just one of them…will believe what they learn about Jesus and ask Him into their heart. If that happens, all the time, energy, preparation and effort will have been worth it. In Gods economy nothing is wasted. Everything we give to see a child come to Christ is worth it.

The heart of a child is tender and open to the things of God. Jesus told His disciples to let the children come.

“The people brought children to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus was irate and let them know it: "Don't push these children away. Don't ever get between them and me. These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom. Mark this: Unless you accept God's kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you'll never get in." Then, gathering the children up in his arms, he laid his hands of blessing on them.” Mark 10:13-16 (The Message)

I read in that scripture passage that I have to have the heart of a child. A childlike faith is what is required for me to enter God’s kingdom. We are God’s children. All of us need to know that God loves us, that He has a plan for our lives and He sent His Son to die for us. VBS is one of the ways God’s message is communicated to a community of children that they are important to God.

Do you have fond memories of VBS? I’d enjoy hearing them.

It’s Gratitude Monday. I’m adding to my list of graces.

51. All the people from the 2 churches I attended as a teenager who impacted my life for Christ…naming just a few here.

52. Charles…he drove a bus that picked up my sisters and I and then took us home.

53. Rick…a Jr. High Sunday School teacher who put up with our juvenile antics.

54. Floyd (aka Papa Brown)…drove a the van that picked us up and drove us home…sometimes stopping for ice cream at the Dairy Queen.

54. Wayne…taught my High School Sunday School class and never failed to tell us the importance of studying our lesson and reading the Word…knowing it went in one ear and out the other…he prepared and faithfully taught us every Sunday.

55. Fay…was my youngest sisters Sunday School teacher, she didn’t give up on that group of kids, took them on a trip to 6-Flags and invited me along.

56. My grandmother…prayed for her children and grandchildren every night.

57. My Aunt Betty and Uncle Raymond…my first memories of visiting a Church is with them.

58. My dads uncle encouraged my parents to allow us to attend church where he was an active member and would keep an eye on us.

59. The youth choir “The Ambassadors”…I learned to love the music of the church through my experience with that choir.  Charles and Wanda were our fearless leaders.

60. Lizzie (aka Mama Brown) invited us to her house after church many Sunday’s and fed us the most wonderful green beans fresh from her garden.

61. The group of teens from Lone Oak who piled into a van one Saturday, drove to our house and invited three sisters to church…I married one of the guys.

62. David and Ginger…they regularly opened their home to a group of young people to fellowship with one another, planned fun games, had snacks…such generous people.

63. Ruby…patiently endured our youth choir practices, taught us the music and played the piano.

64. Flossie…was encouraging me to teach the Preschoolers Sunday School class before I finished High School. She had such a heart for children.

65. Howard…ran Camp Allen - the camp I attended with my friends. Many good memories of worship and fun.

66. The generous people who gave money so I could attend camp.

67. The adults and the parents of friends who by the life they lived everyday showed me what being a follower of Christ looked like.

68. The Church that acted like the Church and reached out to three sisters and made us feel like family.

69. The people who faithfully prayed for me through my teenage years and beyond.

70. The kindness and encouragement of people who had no idea that church was a refuge for me as well as my sisters.

Join the Gratitude Community and share your blessings.

From Strangers To Friends

I have a friend I miss a great deal.  I think it was five years ago that we met at a Women's Bible study.  I didn't know any of the women there, I just wanted to attend a study and heard through a woman I spoke to about churches in the area that her church was having a study on Tuesday mornings.

The first week I attended with the woman who told me about the study but she wasn't going to be able to attend after the one time as she worked.  The second week I sat at the table nearest the door, I arrived early and sat where I could make a quick exit since I didn't know anyone.

The next week I was a few minutes late arriving and there were no more seats close to the door.  I'm sure you've done it, trying to be inconspicuous you try to tip-toe into the room, scanning for the nearest empty seat and the only seats are in the middle down in front.  Making my way down I grabbed the closest chair and tried to quietly set my stuff on the table, scoot my chair in and not draw any more attention to myself.  It didn't work, the teacher made a point of interrupting her opening remarks to welcome me.  I came to love that teacher, she had such a heart for the women who attended her classes, such compassion for each of us and a deep love for her Savior and the Word.

The women at the table where I was sitting were all veteran Bible study-goers and had a familiarity with one another as this wasn't their first study together.  I was the newbie, made to feel welcome but still felt like an outsider.  The leader had each of us write a praise or a prayer request on a slip of paper then pass it to our right.  My request went to a woman with a British accent on my right and I received the prayer request of a lady with short white hair and sparkling eyes.  She had the kindest smile and was so warm towards me that I felt at ease with her right away.

During the break we talked and shared information about ourselves, by the time the study was over that day I felt like I had made a new friend.  After that we sat together when ever possible and would go to lunch after the Bible study on a regular basis.  We talked about everything.  We prayed for one another and each others families.  

The day I told her that we were moving away she was so supportive and began praying right away for my husband and I to have safe travel, for him to find a job, for us to find a home.  But she also told me she wished we were staying.  

It's been three years since I moved away and we keep in touch by phone.  I've been back to visit her once and hope to visit her in the fall.  She is one of my dearest friends, someone who is eager to know what's happening in my life.  When we chat over the phone it's almost like the miles melt away and we are sharing our hearts with one another just as we did face to face. 

The friendship we share is special, she and I talk about how quickly God made us the closest of friends.  I'm so glad that I was running late and the closest seat that day was one next to her.  I don't believe in coincidences and I believe that God set in motion the events that would lead to our meeting that day.  

I just wanted to tell you about my friend Monte and encourage you to strike up a conversation the next time you are seated by a stranger.  You never know, they might just be a special gift from God to you.  A friend who shares your burdens and joys.  A friend for life.

I love you Monte!  You are a gift!

Prayer Warrior? Me?

I’m involved in our church’s prayer ministry. When I first considered serving in this ministry I wondered if I was the wisest choice, there are others infinitely more qualified. You know…real prayer warriors who are faithful to keep a daily schedule of meeting with God in an extended time of prayer and intercession.

I work at it. I pray everyday but not necessarily for extended lengths of time, totally focused on prayer. I’m learning that the image I have in my mind of the prayer warrior isn’t always the calling God has on my life and the ministry of prayer.

For years when asked “How is you’re prayer life?” my answer was “I wish it were better”. Did I pray everyday at the same time for a certain length of time? No. Did I have enough faith? What was the ratio of answered prayers to unanswered prayers? Surely that was an indication of how strong my faith was and how well my prayer life was going. I have no idea how I came to that formula to evaluate the perfect prayer life but I know I never measured up.

Then a health crisis of an extended family member led to a cross country trip and taught me a lot more about prayer. The prayers for healing, the prayers for strength, the prayers for compassion, the prayers asking to be able to anticipate a need before it was voiced…it was a steady, ongoing conversation with God asking for help to meet the needs of someone recovering from major health concerns. I thought I understood what it meant to have an attitude of prayer and thankfulness but God showed me I had only been scratching the surface.

Prayer is just conversation with God. That’s it. The walls and stained glass windows of a church are not a requirement for prayer. Kneeling is not a requirement. Bowing your head and closing your eyes are not requirements. Once you understand that you can pray anywhere, and be doing anything while praying then it’s easier to be in an ongoing conversation with God.

When I consider all the times during my day that I talk to God while I am doing other things then I begin to realize that I spend a great deal more time in prayer than I originally thought. Amazingly, those short, spontaneous conversations with God are just as much “prayer time” as the extended times I share with Him.

“Pray without ceasing” 1 Thessalonians 5:17

I have a great deal of learning to do when it comes to understanding what it means to be in relationship with the God above all other gods. The best way to learn is to make myself available to Him through prayer and reading His Word. But God doesn’t waste any of the time I spend in prayer with Him…driving, showering, washing dishes, scrubbing floors, pricing merchandise at work, whispered prayers in the dark of night, prayers asking for the right words to share. Every conversation with Him is time with Him.

I’m not going to beat myself up anymore when it comes to prayer. Someday I will reach the point in my relationship with Him that every waking moment is lived in awareness of being in His presence. Until then I will focus on having an attitude of prayer, praying about everything as it comes to my mind and not getting too busy or distracted to speak with the One who never leaves me.

If you have the self inflicted bruises of beating yourself up over prayer then put down the stick and ask God to show you how to pray without ceasing.  He has nothing more important on His agenda right now.  I don't mind having company in the school of prayer and would appreciate hearing about what He is teaching you.