My Least Favorite Thing to Do: Waiting

I've had to go back and read my last post several times in the last week as we have still not moved into our new house. Isn't it funny how our perspective can change from the mountain top to the valley? The mountain is the same size, whether you're looking up at it from the bottom or at the summit looking back over how far you've come. However, it seems so much more intimidating from the foot of the mountain than it's peak. And once you've made it to the top, that doesn't mean it's smooth sailing from that point...there's another one just around the corner waiting to be climbed.

That's where we are now...after a year and a half of waiting, praying, searching, and hoping, we finally found our house. We were not only on top of the mountain; we were on top of the world. It is a great house and we were getting it for a great price. Suddenly, we turned a corner and there was another mountain to climb. This one doesn't necessarily require much action on our part...it's simply more waiting. Waiting on others to do their part. Waiting on the process to be completed. You may not know this about me...I don't like to wait. I find it more exhausting and taxing than actually doing something.

But alas, we wait. There's not much else to do at this point. So here we sit....waiting and praying. I must continually remind myself what I wrote before about God's timing being perfect. I still believe that...it's just difficult to remember it. It makes it more difficult that our delay appears to be caused by negligence and oversight on the part of others. That makes it even more difficult to wait. But what else can one do.....simply wait. I've always loved this song, but it means more to me now than ever before...

While I'm Waiting
by John Waller

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Takeing every step in obedience

While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait

I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord

Momentary Troubles

Ever had one of those days? I've had several lately...

A couple of weeks ago my laptop died. Last weekend the coffee maker did the same...just as I was making coffee for some guests. One day last week Little Man threw up all over the van while waiting to pick up Little Miss from preschool. (He was fine right after; his car seat and the interior of the van were another story!) Last month we learned Little Miss has a chronic eye condition that requires a lot of attention (nothing serious, but uncomfortable for her). We are on our third round of medication, none of which are working fast enough for us. Add to that the ongoing house hunt, the increasing levels of stress at Hubby's work, and Daylight Saving Time, and well, you get the idea.

So, imagine my frustration today when I logged onto our desktop (now our sole computer) and found out I had inadvertantly downloaded something that left behind a nice little gift (a.ka. spy ware and a virus). Sorry Hubby! The good news is Hubby is an IT guy and can salvage it. The bad news is...it's one more thing to fix. I'm starting to think I might have the opposite of "the Midas touch" (Shall we call it the "Nancy touch"?)

That's why I was so glad when I read a post last weekend from Frugal Coupon Living. Every Sunday she posts Treasures From Heaven, and last week's post was exactly what I needed. So much so that I read it again today, just for inspiration.

Building on her idea, I've decided to list those things in my life that are going RIGHT these days. Here goes:

• I have a wonderful husband who loves God, adores me and our children, and works hard each day to be sure we are cared for, provided for, and enjoying life.
  
• I have a beautiful, sensitive daughter whose imagination knows no bounds and who recently asked Jesus to come into her heart and be her best friend.
• I have a sweet son who amazes me every day with his intelligence, humor, and nonstop charm.
  
• I have a cozy home, food to eat, a vehicle to drive, clothes to wear, books to read, and toys to enjoy with my kids.
• We are blessed to be a part of a fabulous church where we are challenged and inspired in our faith.
• We have wonderful, caring friends with whom we can share our lives.
• I have extended family who, although I do not get to see them often enough, I know they are simply a phone call away.
• I am healthy, and I'm learning to take even better care of myself through nutrition and exercise (and feeling better because of it).
  
• Today alone I was able to buy groceries for my family, take my daughter to preschool, spend quality, one-on-one time with my son, chat with a good friend on the phone, drive through neighborhoods and "dream" a little, and give and get lots of hugs and kisses. (And the day's not over yet!)

All in all, I am very blessed. Sometimes it's hard to remember that when all I can see is everything going "wrong." Maybe I should take time more often to make lists like the one above and get a little perspective.

How's your perspective? Do you need to refocus? If so, grab a pen and paper and start listing what's going right (or what you've accomplished today). You might be amazed at how long that list is...I know I was. :)

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

--2 Corinthians 4: 16-18

Happy Thanksgiving

We are getting ready to hit the road for grandma's house in a few short hours, so I wanted to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. For those we are unable to be with this year, we will miss you deeply. We pray everyone has a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving Day!

"I will give thanks to the LORD because of his
righteousness and will sing praise to the name of
the LORD Most High."

-Psalm 7:17

It's Monday...All the More Reason to be Happy

photo by Omerad

Whoever is happy will make others happy too.

— Anne Frank

God, Our Protector

We've had an interesting start to 2009. Today the kiddos and I were involved in a car accident. We are all OK, but our minivan (and main mode of kiddo-transportation) is, for the moment, undrivable.

We are definitely counting our blessings tonight--we are not seriously injured and, by all accounts, our vehicle is fixable. The other vehicle hit the passenger side (the side Little Miss sits on); a few seconds earlier into the intersection would have resulted in a direct hit to her door. I won't allow myself to even think what that would have meant. I am simply so grateful for a God who watches over us.

For (God) will command his angels concerning you to guard you in
all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will
not strike your foot against a stone. -Psalm 91:11,12

I am simply grateful that He charges His angels with the task of protecting my little angels...especially when I cannot.

Back to the Basics

Photo by Omerad

From my devotional today...

I am not saved by believing; I realize I am saved by believing. It is not
repentance that saves me, repentance is the sign that I realize what God has
done in Christ Jesus. The danger is to put the emphasis on the effect instead
of on the cause It is my obedience that puts me right with God, my consecration.
Never! I am put right with God because prior to all, Christ died. When I turn to
God and by belief accept what God reveals I can accept, instantly the stupendous
Atonement of Jesus Christ rushes me into a right relationship with God; and
by the supernatural miracle of God's grace I stand justified, not because I am
sorry for my sin, not because I have repented, but because of what Jesus has
done. The Spirit of God brings it with a breaking, all-over light, and I know,
though I do not know how, that I am saved.

--Oswald Chambers

It's not an extraordinarily new concept, nothing revolutionary or earth-shattering...just a simple reminder of God's amazing grace. But I've found that sometimes it's the simplest things that make the greatest impact on me. And this did.

Hail to the Chief

(Two political posts in one week...don't get used to it!)

Anyone who knows me well--for that matter anyone who read yesterday's post--knows that I hold some fairly conservative and traditional views. While last night's election didn't turn out the way I had initially hoped for, there are so many things I am thankful for:

• I am thankful to live in a nation where we, the people, are allowed to have a voice in choosing our leadership.
• I am thankful that I am allowed to speak my mind to openly, and respectfully, disagree with political leaders and legislation.
• I am thankful that I was able to witness history in the making as the first African-American candidate was elected president.
• I am proud to be part of a country who has survived the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement, and came through it all stronger....strong enough to elect an African-American president less than 150 years after ending the Civil War.
• I am thankful that I serve One who is in control of history andthe future--who "holds the heart of the [president] in his hand; He directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases" (Proverbs 21:1).

The American people have spoken and elected Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States of America. He will be the leader of our nation. What does that mean for me as a conservative Christian?

It means that I will respect him. It means that I will show him honor. It means that I will pray for him and support him. Do I agree with everything he stands for? No. Will I like everything he does? Probably not. Will he bring good or harm to our country? Only time will tell. But none of that should be my concern.

My concern should be to live according to God's standard for my life, and according to Romans 13, God commands me to, "submit [myself] to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established."

We may not agree politically, but president-elect Obama has been placed in this position by God Almighty. It is not my job to criticize or malign him (or his followers). It is my responsibility to "give everyone what [I] owe him...if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor."

As president of the United States, I owe him my respect and my honor.

Quote of the Week

photo by Omerad

“Whenever you see darkness, there is extraordinary
opportunity for the light to burn brighter.”

— Bono

Hurtful Words

Words are a powerful thing. Whether spoken or written, they communicate a message. They have the power to hurt or heal, to encourage or discourage, to build up or tear down. You've heard it said, "The pen is mightier than the sword." We sometimes forget that spoken words carry the same weight. And hurtful words are the worst kind. They always result in one thing...pain.

As the receiver of hurtful words, the result of pain is obvious. You are wounded and cut deep by the words (either spoken or implied) of another. As the user of hurtful words, one may feel a moment of relief, even vindication. But once that moment is gone, the result is the same...pain. The words unleashed on another can do nothing to heal the pain that originally caused the outburst. Even if the words were justified, the potential hurt to another person (or relationship) is pain enough.

Maybe that's why the authors (and ultimately The Author) throughout the Bible spent so much time and effort reminding us to bridle our tongues, think before we speak, and consider how our words will be received by the intended hearer.

"The tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark." James 3:5

"Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." Proverbs 12:18

"Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." Colossians 4:6

"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer." Psalm 19:14

Quote and Pic of the Week

photo by Omerad

“Remember always that you not only have
the right to be an individual, you have an
obligation to be one.”

— Eleanor Roosevelt

Deep Thought Monday

I'm taking a hiatus from Menu Plan Monday this week to share something I came across. It's not really all that revolutionary, but it was a good reminder to me of a truth I sometimes forget. (If you had your heart set on a menu plan, head on over to Org Junkie...there are plenty to choose from!)

From time to time I've been known to react from emotion rather than logic, rationale, or even what I know to be true. You could say I've let my emotions get the best of me on occasion. (You can stop laughing and nodding your head now, Hubby.) That's something I've been working on lately...Choosing to be the best person I can be, no matter how tired I am, how discouraged I feel, or how much I just want to crawl in a hole and cry (or sleep!). I've discovered (yet again) that the strength I need to handle (i.e., control) my emotions doesn't come from within me...that was the mistake I had been making for so long. The strength to handle my emotions, my choices, my circumstances, my life comes from the One who created me, designed my emotions, gave me the freedom to make my own choices, controls my circumstances, and orders the steps of my life. That's why these passages I came across this week meant so much to me:

"'As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.' (Proverbs 23:7).
This meant that circumstances did not cause my emotions,

but my thoughts about my circumstances did."

--Erik Johnson in an article "Driving Yourself Crazy,"

from Focus On the Family (April 2008)

“We become what we think about all day long.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

"I have learned the secret of being content in any and
every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in
plenty or in want. I can do everything through
him who gives me strength."

--The Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:12,13

Do you have a favorite passage, verse, motto, or exercise you use to manage your emotions?

Quote of the Week

"Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few

be well tried before you give them your confidence. "

— George Washington

Quotes of the Week

"Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body"

--Joseph Addison

"If reading were to the body what exercise is to the body, I'd be one fit woman!"

--Nancy @ Chocolate Ink

Quote of the Week

"Be faithful in the small things, because it is in them that your strength lies."

--Mother Teresa

Forgiveness

I hate that after 30+ years in this thing we call the Christian walk, I still have to ask for it (forgiveness). But I'm so glad that once I do, it's available--from God, from my family, from my friends. Unfortunately, it's often those closest to me whom I ask it of most often. I guess that's how it is with us all. We show our true colors to those we really love. It's just that sometimes those colors aren't the prettiest in the box. Sometimes they're tainted with fatigue, attitudes, emotions, tempers, reactions...the list goes on.

The whole concept of God's forgiveness fascinates me. When you really stop to think about the fact that God chooses to completely erase our trangressions, it's overwhelming. To think that He can absolutely NOT remember my previous sins (for which I've asked forgiveness) is utterly amazing to me. I only wish I could do the same, because it seems that when I fall I'm reminded of all the times I've fallen before and will probably do so again. I'm reminded once again how truly mortal and imperfect I am. Then again, I guess that might be a blessing in disguise, for not only am I reminded of my failures, but I'm reminded of His grace...His truly amazing grace.

"As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed

our transgressions from us"

--Psalm 103:12

Quote of the Week

"The years teach much which the days never knew. "

--Ralph Waldo Emerson

Taking Joy in the Little Things

A few weeks ago, I posted a review of Sally Clarkson's book, The Mission of Motherhood: Touching Your Child's Heart for Eternity. As I was reading Sally's blog (I Take Joy), I came across Ms. Clarkson's e-mail address. On a whim, sent her an e-mail explaining how much her book meant to me, the impact it had on me and my parenting, and thanking her for her ministry. I know someone of her position (author, speaker, blogger, mother of 4, etc.) has at least a million pressing things to do at any given moment. I hoped that my e-mail might actually get read, but I definitely didn't expect a reply. Imagine my surprise when I opened my inbox the other day to find an e-mail from Sally Clarkson herself!


The fact that Ms. Clarkson took the time to e-mail me was a huge encouragement in herself, but what she said to me was even more encouraging. Her words of affirmation and support for my decision to stay home with my children, and her recognition of the fact that that isn't always an easy role were so soothing to my soul. I'd like to share just one line from her e-mail that I found so encouraging:

"I have not always found my choices easy, but I see the results in the great souls of my children."


As a mother on "this side" of parenting (just starting out), it was so encouraging to me to hear that from a mother on the "other side" (whose children are all grown). To know that it was also difficult for her, but that the tough choices paid off is in itself a huge encouragement to me. I'm sure I will revisit those words in the days and months to come. Thank you again, Sally.


On another note, we took advantage of the beautiful weather today to go on a little scavenger hunt. It was so much fun to watch my Little Miss diligently searching for a rock or flower to put in her makeshift "bag." It was such a simple outing, but it meant so much to her. It was the first thing she told Daddy about when he got home, and continued reliving it through dinner.


While on our hunt, Little Miss was taken with this tiny angel statue on our route. She stopped abruptly, stroked it's little head, and said, "Aww...look Mommy!" I was so taken with her sweetness, I could hardly notice the statue. Fortunately, I had my camera on hand to capture the moment of my angel with her angel.


It was a good day.

Quote of the Day

There's a quote at our library...actually it's on a T-shirt in the gift shop, but I love it. It goes like this:

"Outside a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside a dog, it's too dark to read."

--Groucho Marx

I just love that!