No clue what to give?

This blog is from 11 years ago, but I needed to read it again, so I decided to share it with others.

I think it just hit me why I'm NOT looking forward to the holiday - I'm not ready! I haven't gotten even one gift yet. Christmas is less than a week away and I've gotten nothing! Well, that's not completely true. I did get one gift for my daughter. I was in the store and it hit me...I got her - oh no... I'm not telling. This might be the one time she actually reads my blog! Let's just say, I can't wait to see her unwrap it and hear her laugh when she realizes what it is. It's not a big gift, but it's one that I know will bring a smile to that sweet face.

Smiles at Christmas are what we all hope for. I talked with a friend today and she is so excited about Christmas this year. She just figured out what to get for her husband and she's practically giddy with joy! She's planning just how to wrap the gift, and you can tell she's anticipating her husband's face when he opens the gift.

That's the difference, isn't it. When you have a gift for someone you love, and you know it's something special that will make their face light up with joy, you just can hardly wait for Christmas....but now that my kids are older, there simply aren't that many surprises - or smiles. Oh, my daughter would LOVE a car, but the budget just won't allow that - not even an old one. Instead, she's asked for cash so she can go shopping. Easy - but not very exciting. My son - he wants some games. Again, easy - but not too exciting. My husband...I have no clue. We probably would both be happy with a nap. See - nothing to get excited and really smile about.

I would love to see that look of absolute joy that we used to get from the kids when they were little. I watch videos of them playing with the bag the toy came in and being completely enthralled. Now it takes a lot more to get them to even crack a smile.

There have been years when the only thing I really wanted was that smile. I worked so hard to surprise and then would watch their faces to show that they knew how special the gift was. Sometimes I got it - sometimes not. They've gotten a lot tougher to buy for now that they are older. They just don't seem to notice.

That got me thinking about how long God planned our gift on that first Christmas...He'd planned it from the beginning of time. This was no ordinary gift...God gave His treasure - His Son. I wonder if He watched the face of the shepherds and saw that joy? Did He look at the wise men bringing gifts and smile to Himself? Did He watch so many others that just went on their way, not even realizing a gift had been given? What about me? God prepared this gift for ME from the beginning of time...He anticipated giving to me and watching me receive. What does He see from me?

Perhaps the joy of Christmas that I've been missing is due to not knowing what to give...and in not realizing what I have been given. There is no doubt that Christmas is a time of giving. I just have no clue what to give...and I'm beginning to think I don't realize what I have received.

John 3:16-17

The Message (MSG)

"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again.

Photo by Kira auf der Heide on Unsplash

I'm a fighter...

I'm not sure how long ago it was that I heard the verdict...you are diabetic. My first response was "No, I'm not." To which the nurse practitioner said, "Yes, you are." This went back and forth a few times before she said, okay but whatever you need to come in tomorrow so I can show you how to give yourself injections.

There I was, at the peak of my fitness...at least I thought I was. I was running up to six miles a day, eating clean - most of the time, but with occasional symptoms I could explain away. This... I didn't know what to do with this. 

Friends were so "helpful"..." You know you could lose your legs." Yeah, that's something a runner wants to hear! "You could wind up on dialysis." Seriously people, could you just stop talking? Even the endocrinologist they sent me to said these same things! But none of what they said phased me...I knew I was a fighter, so I started fighting. And I fought well - for a while. Then I got tired. I started trying anything that gave me the promise of lower readings or even that somehow they could "cure" diabetes. By now you've probably guessed that none of them worked. And I got tired - really tired.

Then I saw a post from a friend talking about how a new fitness program she was doing had gotten her off all her blood pressure meds. I was cautiously optimistic. I was seeing how she was looking happier and fitter in ways that were clearly visible. So I decided to ask, "What are you doing?" I thought she'd recommend some pill or powder. Instead, she happily recommended that I book an appointment to talk to her health coach at Shutupeatclean. Okay, I responded as I continued to watch from the sidelines. Then one day, I decided to book an appointment. Best decision I've made in years!

I discovered what I needed in my fight - someone who could come alongside me who was knowledgeable in health and fitness and most importantly, someone who would hold me accountable. See, I've had lots of good intentions over the years - what I lacked was motivation and accountability when my motivation waned. I needed information - not information like the internet offers, in a tidal wave with some truth and a whole lot of fiction! I needed someone who could walk me through the process of reclaiming my health and give advice when I was confused. That's what I found in Shutupeatclean and Coach Brian.

I made progress - solid progress, gaining muscle as I lost fat, and developing a lifestyle of fitness. While I still take meds for diabetes, my A1c is down 2 points and I'm actually eating! No starvation diet or extreme food choices that eliminate almost all carbs. I'm exercising like I did before the diagnosis - even more. And I'm finally back to running without injuring myself. 

I went from, "You could lose your legs" to "Are you ready to beat your time in that last race? I've signed up for a Spartan run and while I know it will be a challenge, it's a challenge I'm ready to face.

The diagnosis was meant to give me a death sentence...I believe Jesus has healed me and has given me direction and help in "taking off the grave clothes" that would keep me tied down. I am a fighter, a warrior, and I'm not giving up that easily. As Coach says, I am a Dragon Slayer and I'm not backing down now.

*Post note: Fear likes to play on a person. My father lost his legs before he died. He was unable to care or feed himself. Fear can tear away at a person even when they don't realize it. God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind. THAT is why I'm continuing to fight...I refuse to accept the "diagnosis"!

Guilty...

This is a blog I wrote quite a few years ago, but since today is Easter, I decided to repost it. 

Good Friday. As a kid, I never could wrap my mind around how the day Jesus died on the cross could be called "good." I'm not sure I could do it as an adult either. How could anything "good" be found in that day?

Last week in Kids' Church, I taught the lesson on Palm Sunday and Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. As He entered the city, the people called out "Hosanna" which means "save us." I've taught this story many times but this time, it hit me that Jesus was there for Passover - and He had come as the sacrificial lamb. Somehow it struck me like never before. Just as He was born in a stable like the sacrificial lambs were born, He was going to the Passover as the lamb of God...a sacrifice on this day that would mark how God made a way for the Children of Israel to be spared death just before the Exodus. 

Once again, I started pondering something I've heard so many times - Jesus, who knew no sin, hung on the cross. He was not guilty... Then somewhere, I heard a shocking statement. Jesus was guilty - not with his own guilt, but with ours. Just as the lamb that was sacrificed "took on" the sins of the people, Jesus took on our sins that day. But how do you explain that to children? 

That's where the other part of our lesson came in. I wish I had thought of it, but I found it on another site. You can find the original lesson it comes from at this site: Helping kids understand Good Friday  Basically, I had my son, Levi, stand before the group to represent Jesus. In his words, "I don't look like Jesus," but he certainly looked more like Him that anyone else in the room. The lesson suggested this person wear a robe, but we couldn't find one that fit my son, so a really big red shirt would fit the bill. As it turned out, that red shirt was much more effective than any robe would have been.

As my son stood in the front of the room, the children noticed that his shirt had no spots, nothing. It was just red, like the blood of Jesus. Then they each took scraps of black construction paper and wrote one of their "sins" on it, something they had done wrong whether big or small. They came up and taped those black blotches to his shirt; before long it was covered! He then took the shirt and turned it wrong side out. The red completely covered all the sins. Like the thief on the cross that recognized Jesus for who He was, all those who gave their sin to Jesus had them covered by the blood of the lamb.

You know, I've done this lesson before and we put our sins on the cross, but this is the first time I've ever done it where I put them on a person that represented Jesus. Maybe it meant so much more to me because we used my own son as a prop...I'm certain if it had been left up to me, I'd never have allowed my son to carry all those sins of others to the cross. But there he stood, representing Jesus - covered with the "sins" of others. 

This made me look at things in a whole new light. When Jesus stumbled as He carried that cross up the hill, was it because it was so heavy, or because the sins that were now placed on Him were so heavy that the weight of them made it nearly impossible to walk? The one who was spotless was literally carrying what I had done all the way to the altar and then acted as the sacrifice that would cover them all.

I have heard the story of Jesus on the cross in so many ways, but for some reason, seeing those black blotches on that red shirt made me see things in a new light. Jesus was guilty when He hung on the cross - but the guilt was mine. He had taken it on so that I didn't have to. 

Only God could take the horror of that day and turn it into something "good." If He can do that on that day, surely He can take whatever comes my way and turn it to good, too. 

Thankful Good Friday and Easter, my friends. Like the thief on the cross that believed, our debt has been paid, and we are guilty no more.

Romans 8:28
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those called according to His purpose.

Isaiah 53:12 (emphasis mine)
Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Hebrews 9:28
so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

1 Peter 2:24-25 (Message) (emphasis mine)

This is the kind of life you’ve been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it, step-by-step.

He never did one thing wrong,
Not once said anything amiss.

They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right. He used his servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way. His wounds became your healing. You were lost sheep with no idea who you were or where you were going. Now you’re named and kept for good by the Shepherd of your souls.

Photo by Alicia Quan on Unsplash

They call me...Guinea pig

 

This post will be about my journey with diabetes...and hopefully more.

About 12 years ago I was diagnosed as diabetic. I guess I could have titled this post, They call me diabetic, but it goes further than that. I have always cringed at being identified by the disease that has tried to define me. I remember telling the nurse practitioner that I was NOT diabetic, despite having a reading of 583 for my blood sugar. She kept saying, yes you are to which I kept responding, no, I'm NOT! Finally, she said, "Okay, but I still need you to come in tomorrow so I can show you how to give yourself insulin injections."

I quickly learned how to "count carbs" and be a "good diabetic". For a while, it worked. I was in the Honeymoon period of my diagnosis. It worked, lulling me into the idea that I knew what I was doing. Now, fast forward to the past couple of years. I was no longer, in control. In fact, it seemed that all of the experts had different advice - thus my new name - Guinea pig. 

Oh, they didn't call me Guinea pig, but that is in essence what I was. Take an A1c test - hmmmm, too high. Let's try this. First, it was medicines, then lifestyle changes, then one thing after another. I got so sick of the questions, "Are you drinking water? Cutting out sweets and breads? Walking?" Get the picture - I was a guinea pig. 

And my own research wasn't much better. Every ad that scrolled across my screen was for something different - try cinnamon, eat this, don't eat that, try this new medicine. It was exhausting. For a while, I tried Keto and had a degree of success, but it was exhausting. 

Recently, I took on a trainer - Coach Brian with Shutupeatclean. Yeah, the name pretty much says it all. Stop all the complaining and change your life. There is SO much to this program, but since I'm on the eating subject, that's the focus. 

Almost immediately I saw success! I lost weight! I felt stronger!! I even got "guns" as my students call them. And yet...still my blood sugar was spiking for no reason. Coach looked at every aspect, constantly working to find the source of the problem and kept mentioning, it might be the protein drinks you are using. To be honest, I quickly dismissed this since I "knew" what I was doing. After all, I'd been counting carbs for years! My protein drinks ranged from 0 - 4 carbs per serving. It couldn't be that. Still, he persisted bringing up that perhaps that was the issue.

Well, I finally got frustrated enough to be really honest. All my "labs" looked great, but that one important reading kept showing out in a really negative way! Coach said once again - it has to be the protein drinks. He explained it once again...and finally, I decided to be the guinea pig and try it. I got myself to a "normal reading" and then drank a shake. My blood sugar jumped up 60 points. 

Okay, but honestly I still wasn't sure...so, I waited till I had a "low" and I thought it would be the perfect time to try again. Only one variable - that's how to do an experiment with a guinea pig. One drink - and it was delicious! Again, a 60-point jump that continued to increase! Dang - looks like he was right. (I hate it when he's right.)

I often grumble under my breath that it's just not fair. Everyone else gets to eat what they want but I cannot - well, not and remain healthy. I desperately want to be "normal" but simply put, I. Am. Not. And maybe that's okay. Maybe my path is supposed to look different. Maybe being a guinea pig is part of the overall plan.

I in no way believe that God gave me diabetes - God doesn't do things like that. But He did allow it, knowing that as I turned things over to Him, He would use it for my good and His glory! And he planned ahead of time to bring those into my life that could help me overcome. My doctor, that I dearly love, and my Coach, that I love to hate. 

I can't live like others - and that's not a bad thing. Sometimes I feel like a guinea pig - I want a simple, cut-and-dried answer...but I am not living a simple, cut-and-dried life. And neither are you. We are called to be more than conquerors...and sometimes that means we have to go through a period of feeling like a guinea pig, running test after test to see what works. 

Don't be discouraged...God will provide the answers you need - when you are finally ready to hear. I don't know what your "protein drink" is - that thing that is supposed to help according to all the commercials and experts and magazines. What I do know is that God is faithful and will help you see the answers you need when you are ready. You may not get all the answers you want, but you will find the answers to your purpose and so much more when you seek...and sometimes are willing to be a guinea pig. 

Photo by Bonnie Kittle on UnsplashIt's not that God is trying to figure it out - He's trying to help you see.

Happy new year and new vision to you my friend....from a fellow guinea pig.

Why do crazy?

Those who know me probably have noticed a change in me lately - I know this because people keep asking me, "Why are you doing this?" I'm pretty sure they think I am crazy - and maybe I am.

What am I doing? Well, I've started working with a virtual trainer, Brian McMillan from Shutupeatclean and it has resulted in quite a few changes in my life. Now, to be honest, I thought I was doing this simply to lose a few (make that a lot of) pounds and try to fight back aging. I had no idea that I would be doing crazy things like walking six to seven miles with a weighted vest on Saturdays or exercising every day much less eating clean! Now that I've been doing crazy for a few months, I'm starting to see it's a whole lot more than just losing my 'middle-aged', okay - my 'old-aged' physique. 

At first, I noticed that I was tired - but it was a good kind of tired. Getting outside and sweating to get in my steps each day felt pretty good, not to mention how much it helped clear my head to simply spend some time moving. As the walks became longer, I had time to listen to sermons and books that helped me think about things in a different way. Getting in those 10,000 steps each day also helped me step away from all that demanded my time and clear my thoughts. I found myself able to actually THINK instead of simply running from one thing to another.

Before long, I noticed I was standing straighter and walking with more confidence. I could bend over and pick up a pencil off the floor that a student had dropped for the hundredth time without it being such a huge chore and without getting aggravated - well, not as much anyway. I started feeling stronger both physically and mentally.

Instead of spending my time mindlessly vegging out on social media (come on - I can't be the only one that has had the little TikTok message tell me I'd spent a long time on there and needed to put it down!) I was sitting less! The chair that once sucked me in after work didn't seem to have the same suction power! And when I did sit down, I picked up my Bible more often. In fact, since I started all this crazy, my Bible study went from obediently listening to each day's devotion to digging deeper and actually studying! My hunger for good foods was paralleled by my hunger for God's Word instead of junk! This does not mean I don't occasionally enjoy a tv show or two or even spend a little time on TikTok - but there is balance now! 

And now we get to the real reason for the crazy - something I'm only beginning to see that came from my study. In Daniel 7, (where my study has taken me) I came across a passage that referred to the one who was behind all the evil - and he was referred to as the dragon. My ears perked up immediately! Coach calls the people he works with "Dragon Slayers". Is the real reason I am doing all this crazy because God is reminding me we are in a battle? My enemy isn't flesh and blood - not even my own pudgy flesh or diabetic blood! My journey in this life isn't about me...it's about what God created me to do. 

Now I'm not saying I've gotten it all together by any means - I have a long way to go! But in Daniel 7:25, it says that the enemy will "oppress" the saints. Oppress "literally means to 'wear away' or to 'wear out'. As a believer - one who trusts that God has a purpose for my life even if I don't see it - I recognize that I had gotten tired. I was worn out. My mind was telling me to just take it easy. It repeated over and over - "You're getting older, look forward to retirement and slow down!" 

Maybe the reason it is so important that I keep doing 'crazy' is that I needed to recapture my health and thinking. I have an enemy that is trying to make me tired, wear me out, and get me to give up. But as long as God has given me time here on earth, I want to be a "dragon slayer", be it my own dragons or those that I encounter in the world.

So why do crazy? Because I truly believe God isn't finished with me yet and I want to be ready for whatever He calls me to do. I don't want to enter heaven saying, "I know You had more for me, but I was just so tired." 

Come join me in crazy. 

Photo by Trent Pickering on Unsplash

Thanksgiving lessons from the leaves...

Today, as I raked the leaves in my yard, this blog from years ago, came to mind...and it began with the wind.

Yesterday, I tackled the job of raking the front yard. We have a beautiful popcorn tree that just a few weeks ago was full of the most beautiful colored leaves. Now they all lay at my feet and covered every square inch of my yard in crunchy brown fragments. I knew the weather was going to turn and if I was going to get this done, now was the time. So I raked, and raked, and raked. To make the job more interesting, the wind kept blowing and scattering my leaves. I offered up a prayer - okay, it was more of a complaint..."Come on, God! Give me a break!" For a moment, the wind turned and blew with me instead of against me; I smiled only to then immediately experience the wind shift again. It was then that one of those random thoughts hit.

From here on, this blog may seem redundant, stating the obvious for the oblivious. Yet, it is something I must remind myself of daily. Can I thank God in ALL things, not just those I see as a blessing?

As I raked and the wind turned against me again, I realized that the same wind that blew my work away was bringing a cool refreshing to my sweaty brow. It caused leaves to dance in merriment up to the unbelievably blue sky. I could get angry and "shake my fist" at the wind, or I could take a step back and see things in a different way. Instead of working against the wind, I needed to shift my position and work with that wind....see the gift that it brought in the midst of challenges.

Many challenges I face in life are nothing more than things not going the way I think they should. Perhaps in these times, there is something I can learn. Do I fuss and fume when things don't go "my way"? Do I stare in disbelief when life hands me pain? Do I forget to look up and see if perhaps that which is causing me frustration is at the same time blowing in something else I need? Am I willing to be thankful in ALL things?

That same popcorn tree had given us shade all summer long when we needed it. It had painted a beautiful picture to welcome me home during the first few days of fall. It will serve as the backdrop for our nativity this Christmas. I had thanked God for its shade and colors, could I thank God for its barrenness as well? Would I lift my eyes from the mess at my feet to see the hope? 

I don't know what wind has blown into your life lately...but is it possible that the wind that is "messing with" your plans may also be bringing blessings and hope you have not seen. Though it seems that all is crashing around you....look up. Your strength and hope are there. You can not see them, just like you can't see the wind. But just like the wind, you can feel it and know He is there.

This Thanksgiving, in the midst of all the hustle and bustle of cooking, cleaning, and holiday activities, may you feel the cool wind of His presence and know that He is there. That is something we can truly be thankful for.

 

 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (MSG)

^16-18 Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.

Photo by Alex Motoc on Unsplash

Just quit

That voice...the one that whispers in your head, "Just quit". 

It's always a whisper - anything else and you might recognize the voice. It's a familiar one... " just quit."

It continues on...that whisper. "No one notices. No one cares. Who do you think you are to try this? It won't make a difference."

That whisper. It drains you. And it seems impossible to make it go away.

So instead of making it go away, add to the words. Add the word "don't" and turn it all around.

When the whisper says "Just quit," quietly add the word "don't...just DON'T quit."

Even if no one notices - just don't quit.

Even if no one cares - just don't quit.

Even if it doesn't seem like it makes a difference - just don't quit.

Slowly the voice of your enemy will fade and in its place, you will begin to hear the voice of the great cloud of witnesses who are cheering you on. "Just don't quit! You can do this. What you do matters." 

The enemy only wins if we listen to him. The enemy is the only one who benefits if we quit.

But those who benefit if we don't quit - those are too many to count.

So when the whisper comes - "just quit," come back by adding one little word. 

Just. Don't. Quit. 

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness], stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us," Hebrews 12:1 

Photo by Emma Simpson on Unsplash

The Gilligan in me...

 

Today's random thought is a bit more random than normal! 

Remember the old tv show, Gilligan's Island? Poor Gilligan, he was forever messing up. It seemed that each episode he found a new way to do something "stupid" - something that made you want to facepalm at the ridiculousness of it all. On the rare occasions that he wasn't the "clown" of the episode...wait; he was ALWAYS the clown of the episode. 

In contrast, there were all the other characters that each had endearing qualities - the Skipper who had to lead this eclectic bunch, the Professor who could make anything out of coconut shells and scrap ship parts, Ginger who was gorgeous and looked perfect every episode, Mary Ann who was equally pretty and yet just so darn likable, the Howell's - the rich couple who somehow still had plenty of the finer things in life despite being stuck on a deserted island...and Gilligan. 

But today, the song from the series played in my head..."If not for the courage of the fearless crew, the Minnow would be lost." Let's see - the crew would be the Skipper...and GILLIGAN! If not for Gilligan's courage, they would have all been lost.

We all have times when we feel like the Gilligan of the bunch. We kick ourselves at our own stupidity and we're embarrassed that we're not the smart one or the pretty one or the rich one or the one that everybody loves - we're the Gilligan. But according to the song, that's not how Gilligan is remembered - he's remembered as courageous, saving the lives of those on board. His mistakes aren't sung about - it's the one moment in time when he did what he'd been prepared for.

In Esther, there's a verse that talks about perhaps Esther had been made queen for such a time as this. I know that very likely no one reading this has been crowned queen lately, but perhaps in our own Gilligan way, we have been created for such a time as this. History won't remember all the mistakes you made every day. They won't write a song about how you goofed up on a regular basis. History will remember the difference you made in the lives around you as you rose to the occasion as needed. Well, let's be honest, history probably won't remember most of us at all. But those who needed us that one time that we came through - they will remember us. And that is enough.

So for all the Gilligans out there, remember you are the fearless crew. History won't remember all your awkward times, it may not remember you at all...but you were born for such as this! 

Esther 4:14 (b) 

"...And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

Photo by Max Goncharov on Unsplash

Why a manger?

The following "random thought" actually came about while teaching in Kid's Church just before Christmas many years ago. I don't think I've ever heard it before....in fact, I had never thought of it before the words began to come out of my mouth that Sunday morning. 

It was a typical Children's church service, a week or two before Christmas. I had a wonderful group of kids, most of whom I had known since they were born. These children knew quite well the story of Christmas, so making it real and new was quite a challenge. I had told the story and tried to paint a picture so that the children could experience the story anew. It was then that I asked the question - "Why was Jesus born in a stable?" Of course, the response was "Because there was no room in the inn." 

Then I asked a question even I hadn't considered before. "Why wasn't there room at the inn? Did God forget to make reservations?" Of course, we all laughed at such a ridiculous question. Obviously, the birth of Jesus being in a stable was no accident....but why would God allow/choose His Son to be born in a stable?

It's not like God didn't know when Jesus would be born. Yes, the city was crowded, but couldn't God have made room for this family in an inn somewhere? After all, He's God! He knew when the angel told Mary she'd have a son that they would be making this trip 9 months later! He could have made arrangements! I understand that there are many different views as to what this stable might have been, but it doesn't change the fact that a stable isn't a place for a baby to be born! That's where animals are born....animals like sheep. The kind of animal you'd use for a sacrifice.

And He came as the ultimate innocent sacrifice - a baby. Yet unlike any other baby ever born, He remained innocent and pure.

You know, every time I think about that, it causes a lump to rise in my throat. Jesus, the King of Kings was born in a place where sacrifices are born. He was laid in a manger - the place where the animals would go for food...The Bread of Life, Jesus - born as a sacrifice.

Since this was originally written, I've learned so much more about just how significant it was that Jesus was born in a stable and laid in a manger, and how it connects to sacrifice. When a lamb was born and intended to be used as a sacrifice, it was kept blemish-free. Since lambs are somewhat uncoordinated at birth, they could harm or mar themselves right after birth, so they were wrapped in swaddling clothes to keep them from harming themselves. The shepherds, truly odd visitors to mark the birth of the Son of God, would have known this. When they were told that this would serve as a sign to them, that they would find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger - they knew exactly what that meant. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around this. 

This Christmas, as you take time to read the original Christmas story, may your heart be filled with the knowledge and wonder of God's love for you, and may it once again fill you with awe. Merry Christmas.

John 1:29 "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"

6 things you may not have known about the birth of Jesus

Photo by Daniel Sandvik on Unsplash

I simply don't remember...

 

Anyone who knows me knows that I have a really hard time remembering things. It's not an age thing...I've been this way all my life (at least I think I have - I really don't remember.) I'm pretty sure it's an ADD thing.

It can be the little things that happen to us all...forgetting a name now and then. My husband learned early on in our marriage to introduce himself to whoever I was talking to because there was a really good chance I couldn't recall their name on demand. It could take hours, sometimes days before the gears would click and I could recall their name and where I knew them from. 

Add to this already rocky memory the fact that I've worked with children most of my life so there's their name, parent names, siblings name, their friends...you get the picture. I tell my students each year about the time I called my son Humphrey...Humphrey was our dog. They know if I will mess up my own son's name, there's a good chance I'll mess up theirs. They don't take offense. A lot of them just tell me to call them Humphrey so it's an in-class joke.

But it's not just names. Recently my husband and I came out of a store and he mentioned remembering when that location used to be the "Aim" store. I looked at him with a puzzled look and he said, "You remember. Aim for the best!" I shook my head - don't remember it. That's when he told me I'd worked there! Okay, my memory is far worse than I thought!

My sweet sister is always puzzled that I don't remember things from our growing up. I do remember a few things - the tree we climbed that had flowers that smelled like bananas. My friends and I would climb up and use cans with a string to talk to each other from tree to tree. We were secret agents. 

I remember being in my first grade play and having a mushroom costume that my mama had ingeniously fashioned from an old umbrella. Or the time my cute new one-piece pajamas were too long so she cut them off and hemmed them, only to discover she'd cut off one leg and one arm (hey, flowy was in style in the 70's!) We laughed and laughed and she cut off the other arm and did some amazing stitch work. I had the cutest hot pink pjs at the pajama party.

So see, I do remember some things. 

Some things I wish I could forget - an unkind word. Usually, it's that - an unkind word. My gift of gab gets me into trouble more often than I want to admit. Sometimes people overthink what I say and take it the wrong way. I should have a sign to carry around that says, "Take what I say at face value - there is no underlying message or intent. Don't spend a lot of time thinking about it - I obviously didn't take much time thinking before it left my mouth."

And that's where all this comes around to. Since I don't remember what I say, I'd better make sure that the words that come out of my mouth are sweet because, as they say, I may have to eat them.  How will I do that? As always, God's Word gives me the "how-to" to make sure I don't have to worry about what I say. It's right there in Psalm 19:14

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.

I don't have to remember what I say as long as I follow His Words. And one day, when I get to heaven, if I said anything worth remembering, I know it will have directed someone else to be there with me. And we can laugh and laugh for the foolishness of my words that God somehow redeemed and used for good...and hopefully, I'll even remember saying them.

Photo by Rob Mulally on Unsplash

Time to "Dead-head"

 

Today as I finished my morning run, I noticed that some of my flowers needed some attention. This is an actual picture of them. They had been beautiful, but now they needed to be what is known as "dead-headed" - at least that's what I know it as. It simply means that you go in and pinch off the dead blooms so the others can shine! In another few weeks, I'll need to prune the entire bush, but that's a blog for another time.

As I reached down to pinch off the dead blooms, I had to remind myself that I was not "being cruel" to my plant. (Yes, I have apologized to them as I pinched off each tiny dead flower...) Those brown buds had already had a chance to show off and be beautiful, but now it was time for others to have the same chance. 

As I pinched and pulled, I thought about how as I get older, I feel like my "bloom" has died and it's time to make room for the younger folks and my time has gone, and blah, blah, blah...you know, the same old poor old me tune. That's when it hit me. These blooms were all a part of the same plant! Now you can connect that to the body of Christ of course, but today it hit me - there was actually one plant...a single plant! 

Some are still wondering where I'm going with all this so I'll try and explain. I saw the dead blooms as things God had me do in the past that were wonderful and right. I enjoyed every second of that bloom! But now it's time to let the old works go so that the newer blooms can shine. That doesn't mean that this old plant's time has come to an end - it's just time to do some adjusting.

If you are by chance young and actually reading this, it may not make sense; but for those of use past the beginning plant stages, it might hit home. 

It's easy as we get older to feel like we're of no more use. The blooms that once worked so well have withered and just aren't needed anymore. Our days of raising kids or whatever we used to do are coming to an end if they haven't already. What we're missing is that there are new blooms that are ready to show out! We'll only really notice the new things that God has for us to do when we "snip" off the old. 

Now I'll be the first to admit, I have no idea what my new blooms are supposed to be, but I'm realizing that at 62, I'm not dead and I've got a good bit of life left to give to the Kingdom and those around me! So, it's time to pinch off the old - honestly, I'm asking God what all that includes - and recognize the new. I'm having to ask what that is as well. 

If you, too, find yourself in a season of dead-heading, feel free to share. Sometimes it helps to know we're not alone. And enjoy the new blooms...every single one.

“Forget about what’s happened;
    don’t keep going over old history.
Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new.
    It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it?
There it is! I’m making a road through the desert,
    rivers in the badlands." Isaiah 43:18-19 (Msg)

He's just a coach...

This is a repeat of a blog I wrote years ago, but today I ran into an amazing "Coach" that a lot of people may have never heard of. He's a coach for thousands of students and teachers and if you've never heard of Move To Learn, you need to check it out! I wanted to republish in honor of Coach Calhoun. Thank you for inspiring this old teacher again.

I'd like to dedicate this blog to some of the greatest people I know. They are called coaches.

In the field of education, sometimes coaches get a bad rap. They are sometimes seen as lesser teachers, but I've got to give a shout out to some of the greatest teachers I know, and they go by the name "Coach".

This topic of "coaches" came up in a conversation just yesterday and I heard it put as well as I've ever heard it done. How many other people do we call by their job? Oh, there is Mr. President and Dr. So and So, but no one refers to me as Teacher Sumrall. You don't hear someone shout out, "Hey Secretary" or "Hi Engineer," but go out just about anywhere in town and when a young person (or one who at least ONCE was young) sees their coach, it's "Hey Coach!" It's a title of honor.

Think about it. Few other people have the impact on a young person's life as does their "coach." While they may have a lot of great teachers through the years, many will have one coach who imparts into their lives for 2, 3, 4, even 5 or more years. I know of at least one coach who mentored my son for 4 years, beginning in Jr. High when my son didn't really even know how to tackle. That young man helped develop my son's talent and looked out for him, always steering my boy in the way he should go...even when he wasn't listening to his mom! Thank you, Coach.

We even chose our current school location based on a coach. (That might sound strange coming from a teacher.) I asked around and discovered that while a lot of area coaches were great men, but one coach was described in this way. "Now Coach Wheat, that man builds character in his boys." No more had to be said. I know that football is just a game, but I also know that lessons learned out there on the field can be so much more if used correctly. My son isn't just learning plays, he's learning how to look out for others and be a man of character. 

My daughter had a coach for the short time she played basketball in Jr. High and she still refers to her as "Coach." I daresay Coach Missy had no idea the impact she made in my girl's life, but recently I saw a bunch of her former "players" coming together to honor her for being their coach in high school. Every young woman a stronger and better person (and player) thanks to her leadership.

There have been so many over the years who have poured into the lives of my children. Coach Langham had a way of making my daughter believe she could do anything (and was able to put up with her sarcastic wit like few others.) He also coached my son and gave advice that we still use today.

There are so many on the team of coaches that help mentor my son. Coach Bryant has the "joy" of not only teaching Jr. High but also serving as basketball coach and track coach, traveling miles and miles just to watch our kids run miles and miles. He uses all that time to offer guidance on life, respect, and honor along with the regular coaching duties. (As a mom, I appreciate this SO much!)

I had a "coach" in my own life as well. I wasn't very athletic, but when I was in high school, we had a coach who was in charge of FCA. I listened to his guidance over the years and his words shaped me more than he could have ever known. I still think about some of the lessons he taught and it has been almost 40 years since I sat in those lunchtime meetings.

Then there is my more recent "coach"...Coach Becky. How can someone look at a 48-year-old teacher coming out of the school at the end of the day and see potential? Or maybe it was just pity. Either way, I am so thankful that on that afternoon years ago she invited me to join them for a training run at the track. She has helped so many of us see ourselves as more than what we are to what we might be.

So the next time you catch someone saying, "He's just a coach," remember that they are so much more. These individuals are making a difference that few others do. They see our children (and us) at their best and at their worst, and they inspire these kids to work as a TEAM, something our country could use more of.

I am so thankful for these men and women that give time away from their own families to pour life and character into mine. You make a difference. 

If you have been blessed by a coach, feel free to share this post and "tag" them. I know I will.

1 Corinthians 9:25-27
Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

Photo by Jeffrey F Lin on Unsplash

Seeing things in a different way...

Ever hear something that makes you look at things in a totally different way? That happened this morning.

I was happily going my merry way - okay, I was begrudgingly getting dressed on the last day of my Spring Break, when I started hearing things about the word correction. Now, I will be the first to admit that I am someone who does NOT like correction. It's not that I think I'm perfect, but no one likes to think they are downright wrong. That's when the random thoughts started turning.

It started with me thinking about all the times I had corrected students' work. I would literally spend hours and hours pouring over essays, writing comments, writing questions, writing encouragement - all in an effort to make the writers' work better. Not saying they were wrong, but really trying to help them be clear with their ideas. I would have a few that would read the things I had written and come to me to work on their writing. Those were the precious few...more often I would encounter - "So what is my grade?" or even worse, those that would argue with me as if I had no right to think their writing was anything other than perfect. (Have you ever read a 6th grader's writing - it almost always has potential, but it is rarely perfect.) After a while, I grew weary of trying only to be met with indifference or worse, defiance. I guess when it comes to writing, it's difficult to see correction as an attempt to make things better.

I never had that problem when it came to running. I was blessed to have a coach who saw in me something I could not and worked to bring it out. She would watch my running style and see what I was doing that was keeping me from becoming the runner she believed I could be. She would correct my posture, even my speed when I would try to go too fast, knowing I would burn myself out before I reached my potential. For some reason, I didn't see correction as a bad thing then. She was always right - able to see what I could not and using the experience I did not have.

My thoughts then moved to my son when he first started playing football. The first time he tried to tackle another player, he quickly learned that he needed to improve. He was given the directive to tackle a boy we later called, "the bowling ball with legs" and immediately bounced back from the would-be tackle onto his rear. He needed correction/instruction on his form. Thankfully he listened (being knocked back onto your rear has a way of doing that,) and he became quite the force to be reckoned with on the football field. Rarely did he try a tackle that didn't stop the opponent in his tracks and rarely was he successfully brought down by fewer than 3 or 4 players working together. Thinking about his personality now, I realize how thankful I am that God placed people in his life that he will listen to...because like most young men, he's almost always certain that he is right.

All these thoughts came together to help me see that I've been thinking of correction incorrectly all these years. (Yes, I see that wordplay.) Correction is not simply showing you where you wrong, but it is showing you how you can be better. It is not harsh, it is in fact loving. The Bible even says that. 

Hebrews 12 puts it this way, "My dear child, don’t shrug off God’s discipline,

    but don’t be crushed by it either.
It’s the child he loves that he disciplines;
    the child he embraces, he also corrects.

God is educating you; that’s why you must never drop out. He’s treating you as dear children. This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God?"

In Proverbs 15 it's put this way, 

"Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise."

Finally, in searching for a picture for today's post, I found the one with the glasses. Hmmm, I wear "corrective lenses" - specifically to help me see far away. I don't think of them as punishment, but rather as help. Without them, I wouldn't be able to do a lot of things I take for granted! Again, a positive "point of view" on "correction." 

Now, being the person I am, I have to admit these thoughts scare me. Usually, something like this is preparing me for what is to come. I don't know that I can say I look forward to it, but hopefully, I will be able to see it for what it is...the Lord isn't finished with me yet and He's working on making me better equipped for His purpose.

Just a few random thoughts on the last day of Spring Break...

Photo by Tim J on Unsplash

Let the Truth be told...

 It's 2:30 in the morning and I just woke up from a sound sleep. I've always heard that if that happens, God is waking you to pray.

To be honest, I didn't want to. My prayers lately feel weak and ineffective, but I started to pray anyway...for my kids, finances, my family, whatever came to mind. That's when a phrase started rolling around in my head. It's based on my one word/phrase for the year. Truth.

Seems like it's getting harder and harder to find truth in our world. Somewhere along the way, people believed the lie that TRUTH is relative - different for everyone. But if it's subjective, then how can it be Truth? I understand that everyone can have an experience that is true for them, but that's not the same as Truth with a capital T.

I won't make this long - I'm honestly hoping to go back to sleep, but I felt like I HAD to write this down...we'll see where it goes.

I know for the past year I have felt lied to and outside of my family and closest friends, have felt like I didn't know who to trust anymore. My government, the media, you know - those that seem to run things and often have the loudest voices. But it's time to start praying for the TRUTH to be told. It's time to embrace Truth and for that to happen, we have got to first let go of the lies. Our arms are full of them - lies we tell ourselves, lies we tell others, lies that run our lives. And it's time to say enough.

It's time to let go of all the lies and embrace, hold tight, to the truth.

How does that happen? I'm not sure...but I do know it begins with me. It begins with me being honest with myself and those around me. No little fibs as the kids call them - let's call them what they are. Lies - from the father of lies. They creep in quietly and set up root and before you know it, they try to crowd out the truth. They masquerade as Truth, but they are merely experiences or feelings - both of which can lie to us.

So...starting now, I'm letting go of the lies and I'm embracing Truth. I will do my best to make my words honest and true in every situation both to myself and others. I know I don't have to be harsh, in fact, I should speak the truth in love...that means with kindness, not judgment. I'm in no position to judge.

I'm not sure what this will look like, but I know it's right. And that is my middle of the night prayer that I am sharing.

Lord, 

Bring the Truth to the surface and help us embrace that which is True, Honest, and Just.

Philippians 4:8 KJV

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Amen...and good night.

P.S. In searching for a photo to use with this blog, I was struck by how many showed a Bible as a picture of Truth...thought I'd share...

Bible Photo by Timothy Eberly on Unsplash

Truth Photo by Michael Carruth on Unsplash