Blessed beyond measure...

I suppose if I really wanted to, I could measure my blessedness.  I mean, there are means by which to measure most things in life... height, arm span, how much rice you're going to cook, a child's progress in life, one's level of success....surely I could measure just how blessed I am.  But, seeing as how it's so far beyond the scope of what I could expect or imagine, I just take it in and say thank you, Lord.  Thank you for parents who taught me to love you and raised me well before leaving this earth; thank you for a husband who loves me like you loved the church, supports and lifts me up, and deals with "my brand of crazy"in the most loving way;  thank you for an older daughter who is respectful, thoughtful and trusting of me even though I didn't birth her; thank you for a younger daughter who lights up a room and my heart with her smile; thank you for siblings who sustain me, remind me to laugh, and encourage me to live "my life" even when they disagree with my choices; thank you for friends who love on and care for me from far and near; thank your for the chance to be in a career field that uses and showcases my gifts and talents while bringing me immense pleasure; thank you for a place to worship where I and my family are indeed a part of the body and are welcomed by fellow believers; thank you for the balance I know I need, whether it's present at the time or not; I mean....I could go on and on and on; I remember having hurting knees when I first had Grace and now I can get on the floor with her with a reasonable amount of ease; I have me health and strength and my right mind and a roof over my head and on and on and on....A friend of mine wished me a happy birthday and told me to do something special.  He went on to say that it might be hard to do when I live such a fabulous life everyday.  Well, he may have said it in jest, but there's some truth to it.  I am grateful to live a life filled with joy and smiles.  Sure, there's some anxiousness and doubt some days but even in that, I'm blessed to know that trouble don't last always.  It's my birthday, and it is a happy one.  I'm blessed to see another day.  Beyond measure, I'm blessed....I'm blessed....I am blessed!

EXPECT MORE THAN YOU COULD EVER THINK OR IMAGINE!

Choice...

There's a continuing debate about the right to choose and being pro-choice.  The magnitude of this particular choice has gotten people killed, caused others to justify murder and even caused the highest court in the United States of America to rule and consider and talk about and write about and even reconsider previous decisions.  Choice matters.  But, that particular choice is not what's at the forefront of my mind.
"Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life..." John 6:27
How have your choices been lately?  Have they been deliberate?  Have they been filled with prayer and contemplation and thought, or even reason and practicality;  or have they been emotional, hasty and whimsical?  Do your choices provide for just today...what you'll eat today versus sustaining your temple over a lifetime...what you'll say today in the moment versus words that speak life, evoke confidence and build character.  I know, the bible speaks of taking no thought for tomorrow because today is filled with its own set of challenges.  In that, however, is the biggest choice... of loving, serving and living for God.  Once we've made the choice for food that endures--our relationship with God and his son, Jesus Christ---then the rest of it (our relationships with our spouses, our kids, our bosses, etc.) falls in line, and the other choices become subsequent.  For me, the desire for "food that spoils", be it my own hedonism or laziness or doing what I want, can sometimes be so overwhelming.  I suppose I thought that halfway into Lent, I'd be righteous and virtuous and holy.  HA!  Even now, I get so sucked into my own desires that I momentarily forget about my commitment to the  "food that endures".  I want endurance.  I want eternal life.  In this moment and in my heart, I choose God.  Lord I believe.  Help my unbelief.


EXPECT MORE THAN YOU COULD EVER THINK OR IMAGINE!

Tenacity...

"You are just a hill...you are a big hill and I do acknowledge you, but you are not bigger or better than me"...Yep, that was me talking myself up one of four substantial hills during the course of the 10K I ran today.  It was only a little over 6 miles, but it was a little over six miles:o).  You always hear people talk about running your race....Don't worry about anyone else or the clock; just run your race.  It's like that scene in "Love Jones" when Darius is telling Nina it's about reaching your potential.  (Yes, that's one of my favorite movies, but I digress.)  In an earlier scene he'd talked about setting the bar like Mozart or Coltrane, but later admitted that those are the genius exceptions.  Unless, you're a seeded runner, competing for the big pay out, it really is about you and your best effort.  I was tired after about mile 3 and was looking for mile marker 4.  When it came, I was more than half way done and feeling good about it.  Now, at 1 hour and 14 or so minutes, my finish time wasn't great by any standards, but...I ran the race at a good pace for me, stopped only once to tie my shoe, and ran strong until I crossed the finish line.  Even in being tired, I was tough.  I held it together and wasn't swayed by the multitude of people in front of me; not even the ones with shirts that read "see ya" and "God please let there be someone behind me reading this".  I was tenacious!  I held it together without being swayed.  I ran my race.  Now, I was tired for a good bit of the afternoon and I do have a bit of an ache in my right shin but...The race is over and I lived to tell the tale.  I've gained about 30 pounds in the last 3 years.  I'm the heaviest I've been in almost 15 years, but I don't let that stop me.  I'm working out, and making a better attempt to allow my eating habits to match my work out habits.  I'm not content to stay here and am making progress.   "...  let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Hebrews 12:1 
We each have a race to run.  Regardless of our shape or size, we can run the race with tenacity! Don't be swayed by what you see or hear.  Run with what you know is true and has been promised by God!


EXPECT MORE THAN YOU COULD EVER THINK OR IMAGINE!

Greatness....

This morning in one of the commentaries on Peyton Manning, the anchor talked about his "greatness...but."  She and several others throughout the day talked about his records (among them, being voted MVP the most times ), his leading the Colts to super status and his overall ability as a quarterback.  He's great....but...he's injured....he's as great as his ability to win the next game, so....his greatness, due to a neck injury,  has now been diminished. Dale and I talked about Manning retiring with plenty of money and respect. While it sounds easy enough to us, this man has to wrap his mind around the fact that his life will not be as celebrated as it once was.  
In a separate news story this evening, the headline was the new IPad.  The anchor mentioned Steve Jobs and his "greatness....but."  She talked about the fact that his baby, Apple, was essentially moving on without him, even though it is my understanding that he was involved in the latest project.  He was great...but....no longer on this earth....and his company and life are still going on.  Now, it's not my intention to belittle either Manning or Jobs or their contributions to society.  They both, in their own right, are/were greatness.  It is my intention to point out that each of us, in our own greatness, wherever we are, whatever it looks like, has to be sure of who we are and WHOSE WE ARE.  I say that often, but it's true.  Manning doesn't wear Christianity on his sleeve as....say....Tim Tebow does, but...as Peyton Manning forced out words of graciousness through tears today, I could imagine God standing there saying..."You are of God, little children (INSERT YOUR NAME), and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."  1 John 4:4.  
It's really not about Manning or Jobs or you or me...it's about God and how great HE is.  If we acknowledge that, then we really are on our way to greatness...no if, ands or buts about it!


EXPECT MORE THAN YOU COULD EVER THINK OR IMAGINE!

Effort...

This weekend I caught up on the Nike KobeSystem commercials where highly successful people such as Serena Williams, Tony Robbins, Richard Bransen and Kanye West are encouraged-- by a supposed success guru (Kobe Bryant)-- to be more successful...success at success is what it's called; and he uses the catch phrase "are you the same animal or a different beast?" Right, it makes no sense. If you don't know what I'm talking about, go to You Tube and be prepared to laugh.  Anyway, as is the case with many experts, Kobe Bryant spends very little time listening and when asked a question, all he says is "you're welcome"....leaving everyone to wonder what the meaning is behind what he's just said.  Well, in a very strange way, I get the success at success concept.  I get the concept of a system that takes the success you're having on your own merit and turns it into something even more successful.  One of my sacrifices for Lent is meat.  Well, I had been successful the last week and a half with only a little effort, until I ate some gumbo this past weekend without any thought.  I was at a celebratory gathering following one of my oldest and dearest friends wedding.  Her new mother in law made a pot of gumbo with sausage, chicken and seafood.  I saw people eating it, I saw the pot on the stove and went and fixed me a bowl.  It took me three bites before I looked down at the bowl, saw the sausage and remembered that I wasn't eating meat.  I stopped eating it and put the bowl down to take to my sister.  Aside from making myself  vulnerable and my flaws transparent, my point is this....On my own and with very little effort, I'd done fine.  I had been successful at not doing the thing I said I wasn't going to do....until I wasn't successful.  It occurred to me that my effort was fallible.  In that moment, I could have used a system powered by an  ultimate guru to help me take it to the next level...take success to success.   I call it the God System.  At this point, It would behoove me to make an effort to reach beyond me...to not just do well until the inevitable slip up, but to tap into the ultimate effort system and go the distance.  I often think about this concept with my child rearing effort.  Grace is on point with her 2 year old bench marks.  She's making 3-5 word sentences, she recognizes her letters and can accurately identify several numbers and colors.  She enjoys reading (play play) and is establishing manners and boundaries and likes and dislikes and is an overall healthy child.  This, as a result of her parent's effort, has come pretty naturally.  Now, I think about taking that success to the next level of success.  What are the things that she needs to know that I'm just not equipped or confident enough to teach her?  What about the things I don't know and don't even know to want to know?  (WHAT :O)  How do I take the success we've achieved and become more successful...The God system.
It honors my effort even when I don't..."I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" Philipppians 4:13. 
YOU'RE WELCOME :O) (you have to see the commercials)

EXPECT MORE THAN YOU COULD EVER THINK OR IMAGINE!

Perspective...

This morning, I sat down to read my daily Lent devotional and had to make an effort to find the correct page.  I flipped through the small booklet and finally got back to the front.  When my eyes connected with the part that read...Saturday, First Week of Lent....I immediately thought...."it's still just the first week".  But in that same moment, almost instantly, I re-thought..."I've made it through the first week of Lent with measurable success, and I'm glad".   (maybe I thought grateful).  The point is, I saw it one way based on my state of ideas and facts known to me.  I saw it one way based on my... perspective.  Dale and I go through that sometimes...I'm from Pensacola, he's from East. St. Louis (perspective); I'm a girl, He's a guy (perspective); I'm usually right, he's usually.... (perspective:o)  My other point is that, one's perspective can and quite often should be able to change.  We get so bogged down in what's not ideal or optimal in a situation until we neglect to see the flip side (as they say).  Think about the number of times you've had a conversation with someone, and when you disagree or simply don't like what they're saying, you pull the "well, that's your perspective" card.  It can even be a defense mechanism.  It allows us some leeway to get our point across  or live a "life less pleasing" without being judged or made to feel bad.  If I see someone's toddler acting up....that toddler is bad or perhaps needs a butt whipping or a good "talking to"....PERSPECTIVE.  If my toddler is acting up...she's just being active or behaving as you would expect.  PERSPECTIVE.  The goal is to see it through the eyes of Christ.  I want to be so like Him until my perspective is as if He were my friend ... adviser ... companion ... Savior.  Fortunately, I get a mulligan as it relates to realizing what Lenten lesson I'm on for the day.  I hope as it goes on, my thoughts and perspective reflect less struggle and more focus and growth.   If we really want to bridge the gap between the way we see it and the way someone else sees it, we should all strive to see it as it really is...and that's God's perspective. 
"When we do not think like God, we are not in His image. We cannot say as Jesus did, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father" (John 14:9). 
Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.


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Joy...

I had a wonderful time tonight celebrating my girlfriends upcoming wedding.  It was an intimate gathering of just the bridesmaids and the bride's mother.  It was thoughtful and sweet and fun...It made my heart smile...JOY!  There was bisque and fruit and coffee and cupcakes...JOY!  There were sisters and friends...Games and prizes...Shared stories of "I remember when" and "you mean so much to me" and "I love you" and "I love you, too"...JOY!  There were mothers and wives and a wife to be...JOY!
I know, it sounds pretty simple and otherwise traditional; certainly not anything over the top.  That's the thing about experiencing joy...unlike happiness (which depends heavily on what happens)...joy sometimes just... is.  It just shows up in a hug or smile or a compliment (given or received) or even just being in the presence of dear friends.  When's the last time you felt joyful?  What's on your joy list?  Even when you're tired or nervous or overwhelmed....Joy can still be present.  Be open to experiencing joy when you least expect it and spread a little joy when and where you can. 
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. (John 15:11)

EXPECT MORE THAN YOU COULD EVER THINK OR IMAGINE!