Treasure Hunting

My son is a treasure hunter. Every where we go, he searches for treasure and amazingly he normally finds some. Sometimes a penny here or a nickel there, even the occasional quarter, but he almost always finds money when we are out and about (waiting for him to start finding those big treasure chests of $5, $10 and $20 bills).

But anyway he always goes out expecting to find money ~ treasure. And I started wondering do I expect to find treasures in my life. When I start each day, do I look forward to it with expectancy that I will find great hidden treasures? What are the hidden treasures that the Lord wants me to seek and find.

I try to always be prepared, to be scheduled and on time, hurrying from here to there to get it all in and get it all done. But often when you are an 'A' type person like I am, you rarely take the time to stop, breath, deviate from the plan. But if you never take the time to look around, you sometimes miss the treasures that are hidden in plain view.

For me one thing that I know I will find if I look, but seldom remember to search for is faith - trust. To truly trust that the Lord Jesus has my life planned out. That he has my steps numbered and my plans set, if I would just trust and follow Him. But I often don't rely on Him to begin with. Not until I am in the middle of a mild crisis or situation, then I remember - "oh yeah, trust God". But His treasure for me is so easily found in Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a hope and a future." Now that is some kind of awesome treasure. A hope and a future. You can't ask for much better than that. But when the bills pile up, or the air conditioner goes out (downstairs is kind of warm right now!), or I have a difficult day with the kids or James and I aren't on the same page, or my students at school are on my last nerve. Do I trust in that hope and that future or do I look on my life with frustration and despair?

Look for the treasure. A hope. A future.

Do I trust that the Lord will never leave me nor forsake me? How many times do we walk through life and feel like we are walking completely alone. That there is no one else there that could possibly understand. That we feel completely forsaken. And if we are completely honest, those we love the most will let us down, will not meet all our needs, will forsake us - not forever, but in the moment they will. But the Lord will NEVER leave us or forsake. He promises us in
Deuteronomy 31:6 ~ Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

Look for the treasure. Never Forsaken. Never Alone.

What about when I'm scared (normally at 4am for some unknown reason!) Or I feel that I am being attacked on all sides. When things seem hopeless. Where is the treasure in those times.
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. Psalms 91:1-2. What an awesome promise. The Lord God of the universe is my shelter, my refuge, my fortress. He gives His angels charge over me that I won't even strike my toe on the rock. He wants to be my safe harbor. The One I turn to when it is scary and I am fearful (and fortunately He is up at 4am!).

Look for the treasure. A Shelter. A Refuge. A Fortress.

What about when I don't know what to do? What about those times when there are choices to be made, but I don't know what the right choice is? I am confused. (Being that A type personality, I don't like to make wrong choices - they upset me ...a lot). And if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2: 3-5. When I call out to the Lord and ask for insight, understanding, wisdom, I will understand and find the knowledge of God. Isn't that we all really want - to do the right thing. But when we don't know what it is - if we seek the treasure - the Lord will give the knowledge of the right thing to do.

Look for the treasure. Insight. Understanding. Wisdom.

What about other treasures ~ smiles that are shared with family, friends and even strangers, belly laughs that make your sides hurt, kind words - both given and received, hugs when we are hurting.

Those moments when you see CLEARLY the hand of God working in your life and you take it all in for a moment realizing the God of the Universe loves you enough to work and move in your life and in that moment it takes your breath away. TREASURE.

Who wants to go treasure hunting today? I am sure if go expecting to find it... we will.

Whatever is True....

On Sunday, our pastor taught on the book of Philippians. Over the last year, each week we've been focusing on a different book of the Bible. This past week was Philippians which has always been one of my favorite books of the Bible. My love of Philippians probably started in 5th grade when I had to memorize, Philippians 2:2-11~ Make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose....

Philippians is a positive book to me. One about choosing to have a good attitude and choosing to be joyful. We learned Sunday that Paul when he was writing Philippians was in prison and not just in prison but chained 24/7 to a Roman guard. And yet, he still was able to say he had learned to be content in any circumstances (Phil. 4:11).

We then went on to focus on Philippeans 4:8 ~ Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. .

I think too often it is easy to focus on what isn't going right and what we want to be different or how we want things to change instead of focusing on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, excellent and worthy of praise.

Sometimes things are just rough and it is hard to focus on those things. We are hurting and it is difficult to find joy in the midst of those times that are so trying and hard. And I think God understands that and walks beside us and truly carries us through those really difficult and sad times. It is not during those hard, heartsick times that I am talking about.

But I also think, sometimes people just find it easier to dwell on the things that irritate or bug them. I know I do. It is easy to let my frustrations get the better of me. To not have grace for those people who do not meet my expectations in JUST the way I want them met. To put my own requirements, standards and expectations on others, and to be frustrated when they aren't fulfilled or I find out the standards of others aren't the same as mine. And then from there ~ the anger, bitterness, resentment can start and get a foothold in my life. I think it is important and very critical (for me at least) to really watch my expectations and emotions and make sure I'm not judging others because their personal preferences are different than mine. (and then secretly thinking I am better than they are because to ME, my choices are ALWAYS better). Of course, I am not talking of those things that are explicit in God's word, but more those things that are ambiguous, gray areas, and personal preferences.

When I take the time to focus and set my heart on those things that are true, honorable, right, pure and lovely, I know I am much more joyful and probably a much nicer person to be around. I am a better witness to the Lord's love for us all. And it is all about the choice that I make each day regarding my attitude. What do I CHOOSE to focus on. Do I find the good, honorable and lovely aspects of others or the situation I am currently facing or do I focus on the negatives. They are both there in each one of us, it is all about what we focus on.

One of my most favorite sayings is by Charles Swindoll.

Attitude

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.

Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill.

It will make or break a company... a church... a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable.

The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude... I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.

And so it is with you... we are in charge of our attitudes.

God Bless The USA

Happy Birthday, America! I wanted to take the time to reflect on what America means to me. I have had a somewhat unique experience to have lived and experienced life in countries other than the United States. Sometimes it is only by comparing to others that we truly see how blessed we are.

My first memories of being an American and it being something different and unique was when in second grade we moved to Ontario, Canada. Not so different from America, but there were a couple of neighborhood boys who insisted on calling me "yankee" (with quite a derogatory tone of voice). I kept telling them I was from Georgia which made me a "rebel", but they weren't buying it. At the time it bothered me some, but I also secretly enjoyed being a yankee, rebel, American.

When I was in 10th grade we moved to Bonn, West Germany (at the time it was WEST Germany). What an awesome experience that allowed me to truly see lives and societies that did not live as we do here in America. I remember having bomb threats at our American high school on a fairly regular basis as we had diplomat children from many different countries attending our school and they must have been good targets for threats of terrorism. Thankfully, the threats never came to pass.

I remember traveling to Berlin and visiting both East and West Berlin. Going through Checkpoint Charlie and our car being searched. Going into East Berlin and the eerie silence that permeated the air. We didn't hear dogs barking or children playing, people talking. It was just silent. The groceries stores were bare with only the most minimum amount of food for purchase. The colors were drab and dreary. To say it was depressing is an understatement. I remember standing at the Berlin Wall on the West side and writing my name on it and looking up at the large guard towers and being unnerved to my core. Thinking of the people who had tried to escape to freedom, to be reunited with their families on the other side and being shot down before they could succeed.

We visited the concentration camps at Dachau, Germany. You could still smell the acrid air that reminded us of the unspeakable horrors that occured there. Where just beyond the fence were beautiful farms where far too many turned a blind eye, ear and nose (often I am sure out of numbing fear) to the atrocities that were occuring right next to them. Visiting the homes of Anne Frank and Corrie ten Boom. To see these warriors who lived (or died) through the terror of Hitler's reign.

Having the incredible opportunity to visit the Holy Land. But to be strip searched, taken by heavily machine-gun guarded bus to the airplane for our travels. (just in case someone wanted to blow up the plane, it wouldn't have killed as many people as it would if connected to the airport). To know that the Israelites have never truly had a time of peace and live with this kind of life daily.

To visit poorer nations who don't have the homes, food, clothes, cars, schools, medical care, resources we have. To visit orphans in orphanages who nobody wants because they aren't perfect.

For all these reasons, I often wonder what did I do to receive such a blessing from the Lord as to be born an American. How can I ever show my gratitude for the Americans who have come before me or are currently fighting for us to be able to keep the kind of wonderful lives we have. I know the gas prices are unbelievably high. Groceries are going through the roof as well, job loss is on the rise and moral is down. But still... We live in an incredible country. We have freedom, and there are far too many who have come before us or who are currently making their home on this wonderful planet, who can't say the same thing.

To have so many men and women who have given or are currently giving their lives for us is overwhelming to me. And to the spouses, children and parents who have sacrificed their time and in many cases the rest of their lives with those family members standing guard and fighting for us speaks of incredible selflessness and love they have for America. Thank You.

For those reasons, tomorrow I will be singing (as always ~ with tears in my eyes) -

God Bless the USA.

If tomorrow all the things were gone,

I’d worked for all my life.

And I had to start again,

with just my children and my wife (husband for me).
I’d thank my lucky stars,

to be livin here today.

‘Cause the flag still stands for freedom,

and they can’t take that away.
And I’m proud to be an American,

where at least I know I’m free.

And I wont forget the men who died,

who gave that right to me.
And I gladly stand up,

next to you and defend her still today.

‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,

God bless the USA.

Joy and Meaning in the Mundane

After all the fun we've been having the last couple of weeks, it was time to come down to earth and reality for a moment. Our house was in need of a good scrub down. We spent the morning shopping for groceries and I had to get some of the Method Cucumber cleaner my friend Lisa was going on about. (she was totally right, it does smell good and works great!).

After lunch, the kids and I got busy. We did all those things you do when you clean: changed sheets, scrubbed toilets and baths, dusted, vacuumed. I even bought some new pans to go under my burners. All the while I had my iPod going. Listening to a random shuffle of music.

As I was cleaning, I kept thinking about what a boring day this had been. Productive ~ definetely, but not FUN! I am all about the Fun and love going and doing with my kids. I guess being a teacher, I am fully blessed to have the summers off with them. But as each day passes it is bitter-sweet because it is one day less before we head back to school. And I certainly don't want to waste a day making my house clean.

As I was finishing up my cleaning, I actually took a moment to pray (should have done that from the beginning...) and I asked the Lord what do you want to show me today while I clean. (I didn't leave him much time as all I had left to do was dust a few stray cobwebs and vacuum). But He doesn't need much time. Remember that iPod I had going, a song came on that I like, but bothers me to some degree. It was Matt Redman's - Blessed Be Your Name. I like the song, but it is hard for me to listen to. I struggle with consistently opening my hands to the Lord and letting Him do whatever He feels is necessary. I am a control freak and want everything to go the way I want it to go. So it is hard for me to say Blessed be Your Name when things are difficult and scary.

While that song played, I was reminded that we are to bless HIS name when it abundant (or fun), but also when it is hard (or just mundane). That He is a God who is always good, even when we don't understand. This week I've heard of two mothers losing their children. One a seven-year old daughter who died suddenly from an enlarged heart and another one who lost her 17 year old son while he tried to see who could hold his breath the longest while under water. Such tragedy. And I wonder how in the midst of those times do you say, "Blessed be Your Name". I think in those times the Lord must give you the strength and the peace to say that. I hope and most earnestly pray that I never have to experience that kind of pain and suffering.

So for me as I was reminded of that, I found great JOY in cleaning with my kids. To have the time to do it during the week, so our weekend with James will be free. To have healthy kids that I get to clean with (I was imagining how those mothers would love to have a day to clean with their child who had passed away). To even have a house to clean. To have a house where each of our kids can have their own rooms to keep picked up. That we have clothes and sheets that need to be washed and a refrigerator full of good, healthy food. To have a house that smells good from that great cucumber cleaner (and a pot roast in the oven!). That today, my kids have NOT argued at all. They have helped each other with their rooms. When finished they came and asked me what they could do next to help me. Such pleasant attitudes today.

Thank you, Lord for reminding me that you are truly a good Daddy who loves me and when I take a moment to reflect on you, I see great joy in my clean home.