Abundant life lived simply and deliberately. It is my goal. Is it possible? I seem to get flashes of it and then "real life" happens again. I get swept up and carried in the flow of stuff...
It isn't abundant then, but rather, shallow.
It isn't simple then, but rather, meaningless.
It isn't deliberate then, but rather, mindless.
Arrrgghhh.
God help me!
What do you think?
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
And Then...
And then there were Furbabies! Everywhere!
The joy that they bring is immeasurable. The lessons they teach are innumberable. They are grace and mercy and joy in abundance. They love you and show you...all the time. So what if you have to share your bed every once in a while.
Mercy is the big Shiloh Shepherd, Grace is the golden retriever, and Sweet Pea is the tiny 20 year old kitty in the middle of it all. I don't know where Becan and Skippy Joe Lohr (the other 2 kitty kids) are. Must not have gotten the memo about the photo shoot.
Hope it brought a smile to your face.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Making a Difference
With parent - teacher conferences I am always nervous. Am I living up to their expectations? Am I doing the very best I can for their little darling? Even though I have a fairly regular contact with many of my parents, there are always some who want to come and they did.
All of the conferences went well and it was humbling to hear how much of what we do at school is going home. It is stressfull, but rewarding, to know the amount of advice that we can give - and they listen to.
Stevie and I are a great team.
We are making a difference and so we continue.
All of the conferences went well and it was humbling to hear how much of what we do at school is going home. It is stressfull, but rewarding, to know the amount of advice that we can give - and they listen to.
Stevie and I are a great team.
We are making a difference and so we continue.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Child of God
I am a child of God's. I am made in the image of them...God, Jesus, Holy Spirit. If I am made in the image of them, it seems I should look like them, right?
I wonder if people realize I am related to God?
Do you think Jesus would be standing there with us in the hallway when we are eager to get the latest "scoop" on one of our coworkers or kids families? Or would he be there with the "scoopee" offering love?
Do you think Jesus would be there beside us when we berate a student for not doing the "right" thing again? Or would he be there beside the student offering to do whatever he could to help?
Do you think Jesus would laugh when we enjoy someone else's "funny" clothes or hair or speech or whatever? Or would Jesus take the time to reach out a hand to that person and show them love is much deeper than funny clothes or hair or speech?
God tells us to do two things: Love Him and love others...a lot!
Here's the next question. Would anyone recognize me as a child of God?
I have heard it said that when we get to heaven, God will ask one question and it won't be to us. It will be to Jesus and he will say, "Do you know this one?"
Will Jesus know me? Do I know him? Do you? Does anyone else know we are Christians by our love?
I wonder if people realize I am related to God?
Do you think Jesus would be standing there with us in the hallway when we are eager to get the latest "scoop" on one of our coworkers or kids families? Or would he be there with the "scoopee" offering love?
Do you think Jesus would be there beside us when we berate a student for not doing the "right" thing again? Or would he be there beside the student offering to do whatever he could to help?
Do you think Jesus would laugh when we enjoy someone else's "funny" clothes or hair or speech or whatever? Or would Jesus take the time to reach out a hand to that person and show them love is much deeper than funny clothes or hair or speech?
God tells us to do two things: Love Him and love others...a lot!
Here's the next question. Would anyone recognize me as a child of God?
I have heard it said that when we get to heaven, God will ask one question and it won't be to us. It will be to Jesus and he will say, "Do you know this one?"
Will Jesus know me? Do I know him? Do you? Does anyone else know we are Christians by our love?
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Personhood vs. Paperwork
No wonder God says we should become as little children. Today, we found out that we will be getting a new student in our class...a 6 1/2 year old kindergarten student.
The immediate response of all the adults was a groan of irritation at the thought of all the things that have to be copied and gathered and made and organized to bring a new student up to speed so that they can participate in the regular classroom activities: folder for home/school, poetry folder, sight word poems, name sticks, monthly quilt pieces, seating charts, buddy reader bears, journals.....you get the picture. Now, none of this is to say that we don't want the child to come or don't feel that we can make a positive difference for him, but it is a massive amount of work up front.
That's the paperwork response.
When we were telling the kids about the new student and how he would probably feel nervous/scared and not know any thing about how we do things or where things were, their immediate response was, "I can help him." They were excited to be able to show him which was the boys bathroom, how we walk in line, where to sit, where we keep our journals, how to sign in, where to hang his coat. Many volunteered to be his friend, his best friend. We don't want him to be scared.
That's the personhood response.
Humbles you and makes you proud, doesn't it?
Can you be more like a little child tomorrow? First response...generous and excited....
It's a worthy goal.
The immediate response of all the adults was a groan of irritation at the thought of all the things that have to be copied and gathered and made and organized to bring a new student up to speed so that they can participate in the regular classroom activities: folder for home/school, poetry folder, sight word poems, name sticks, monthly quilt pieces, seating charts, buddy reader bears, journals.....you get the picture. Now, none of this is to say that we don't want the child to come or don't feel that we can make a positive difference for him, but it is a massive amount of work up front.
That's the paperwork response.
When we were telling the kids about the new student and how he would probably feel nervous/scared and not know any thing about how we do things or where things were, their immediate response was, "I can help him." They were excited to be able to show him which was the boys bathroom, how we walk in line, where to sit, where we keep our journals, how to sign in, where to hang his coat. Many volunteered to be his friend, his best friend. We don't want him to be scared.
That's the personhood response.
Humbles you and makes you proud, doesn't it?
Can you be more like a little child tomorrow? First response...generous and excited....
It's a worthy goal.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
It Is Good
What a wonderful Sabbath it has been. I went to church in Bruceton to hear my friend, Tiffany, preach. She spoke about joy and stealing joy. It was powerful and uplifting. I cried and laughed and was inspired to spread joy every day instead of stealing joy. It takes so little to do either. How easy it is to see the joy on someone's face when you compliment them. How easy it is to see the joy on someone's face when you recognize them and their gift or talent. How easy it is to see the joy on someone's face when you attend to them in their moments of joy...and in their sorrow. All it takes is a word or a smile or a touch or a moment of attention. And then, how easy it is to steal their joy with a look or a word or an attitude...
God is for joy! Share the joy. It is good.
This evening I went to a benefit concert to raise money for an after school program in Uganda, where Mackenzie Brown is working for a year. The music was wonderful, the selection of songs perfect and the sweet Spirit of the Lord was in that place. I cried through many of the songs, sometimes because of the words and sometimes for the stories behind the words and the people presenting them. To witness that generous gift being selflessly offered for kids that we will never know until we all get to Heaven was nothing short of being in the presence of Holiness. In talking with people after the concert it was interesting to hear which songs touched which people. For me, the most inspiring song was Go Light Your World. (Tiffany, is that the song you were talking about this morning?)Mackenzie's mom, Shelia, sang it with a voice strong and true. It talks about taking your candle and running toward the darkness...not lighting your candle and sitting it prettily in your living room or carrying it to church with you every Sunday.
Running toward the darkness with your candle and spreading joy...that was the powerful message that I got today. And now I have shared it with you.
Light your candle and get out there. Our world is often a dark place, but not today in my part of the world and it can be lighter and more joyful in your part of the world tomorrow if you light your candle and spread the joy that only you can spread in the place where only you are!
It is good.
You know how you often hear that the world is going to hell in a handbasket? Well, the handbasket is empty right here where I am.
It is good.
God is for joy! Share the joy. It is good.
This evening I went to a benefit concert to raise money for an after school program in Uganda, where Mackenzie Brown is working for a year. The music was wonderful, the selection of songs perfect and the sweet Spirit of the Lord was in that place. I cried through many of the songs, sometimes because of the words and sometimes for the stories behind the words and the people presenting them. To witness that generous gift being selflessly offered for kids that we will never know until we all get to Heaven was nothing short of being in the presence of Holiness. In talking with people after the concert it was interesting to hear which songs touched which people. For me, the most inspiring song was Go Light Your World. (Tiffany, is that the song you were talking about this morning?)Mackenzie's mom, Shelia, sang it with a voice strong and true. It talks about taking your candle and running toward the darkness...not lighting your candle and sitting it prettily in your living room or carrying it to church with you every Sunday.
Running toward the darkness with your candle and spreading joy...that was the powerful message that I got today. And now I have shared it with you.
Light your candle and get out there. Our world is often a dark place, but not today in my part of the world and it can be lighter and more joyful in your part of the world tomorrow if you light your candle and spread the joy that only you can spread in the place where only you are!
It is good.
You know how you often hear that the world is going to hell in a handbasket? Well, the handbasket is empty right here where I am.
It is good.
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