Saturday, July 27, 2013

Little Cabin in the Woods


 
Little cabin in the woods
Little man by the window stood
Saw a rabbit hopping by
Knocking at his door
Help me Help me the rabbit said!
Or the hunter will shoot me dead
Come little rabbit, come inside,
Safely to abide.
 
This past week we were at our “little cabin in the woods” in Colorado.  Love to visit that state!
 
We did our annual soul restoration at a family camp, with good food, fellowship, hiking, sleeping, resting, reading, playing, singing……lifting glory to the Lord.  We have done this camp for years.  I keep thinking we should visit other parts of the U.S. or Canada….but Colorado it is.
 
The trees sway in a gentle breeze, sometimes I think they are voices of the Holy Spirit speaking to me, soothing me, filling my cup back up, directing my future in a way I don’t understand.  The smell is that only mountains and trees can evoke….not something the Kansas prairie gives us.  

Anthony has been obsessed with a rabbit in our yard at home.  So this old folk tune turned camp song was singing in my head in Colorado – bringing my worlds together.  He has chased and chased that poor bunny.  Set up traps to no avail.  He tells me he wants it for his pet – isn’t going to happen.  A boy thing – chasing rabbits. Then he was like “if I get all A’s the first 9 weeks will you let me get a rabbit?”  Hmmmm – given track record data – I said “sure.”  Mixed – love it if he shows me up with all A’s end of first 9 weeks – but not really wanting a rabbit…..stay tuned I guess!

I love my family!





Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep....on my straw mattress?

I’ve driven by this mattress that landed in a cut wheat field of straw stubble for a few weeks.  It makes me smile.  It makes me want to stop my vehicle and go out there and lay on it.  Not sure why. It is so odd, so out of place.  The wind must have caught it and flipped it there from someone who was moving.  And they didn’t notice their mattress flying into a field?  So I wonder who will remove it?  Will the farmer burn it when / if he burns off the straw stubble?

Did you know that there are 23 mentions of “straw” in the Bible?  I like this one:
How often are they like straw before the wind, like chaff swept away by a gale?  Job 21:18
Some days I feel like “straw” before the wind, swept away by the gales of life pushing me down a road, feeling out of control.  This last year we’ve learned a lot about “control” with our teens and their desires to be in “control.”  Giving them choices, having them try again when the “gale” blows them off course.  Using grace and wisdom to direct their paths once more on a path we desire for them – a path of faith, church, family and future following Christ as a leader.  Learning empathy (not my strong suit!)
 
We all get blown about from time to time.  It is a matter of picking up our mattresses and getting back on course. 
Seeing that mattress sitting there yet….reminded me of this classic 18th century prayer we used to recite at bed time – did you recite it too?  I used to think it was morbid to talk about dying in ones sleep….but I realize now, it is the faith of the promised salvation this prayer is recognizing.  My Dad died in his sleep…..what a way to go….salvation greeted....
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep,
If I shall die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take. Amen.

Friday, July 12, 2013

Arky Arky Barky Barky

 
I know it's odd - but every time I look at bark on a tree....I sing this song in my heart....
Arky Arky Song
God told Noah there’s going to be a floodie, floodie
God told Noah there’s going to be a floodie, floodie,
Get those animals [clap]out of the muddie, muddie
Critters of the Lord.
God told Noah to build him an arky, arky
God told Noah to build him an arky, arky
Build it out of [clap]gopher barky, barky

Critters of the Lord.
Chorus
Rise and shine and give God the glory, glory..
Rise and Shine and give God the glory, glory…
Rise and Shine and give God the glory, glory..
Critters of the Lord.
 
(Other verses….)
 
This is the end of, the end of our story, story,
This is the end of, the end of our story, strory,
Everything was [clap] hunky dory, dory,
Critters of the Lord.
Chorus
Rise and shine and give God the glory, glory..
Rise and Shine and give God the glory, glory…
Rise and Shine and give God the glory, glory..
Critters of the Lord.

Monday, July 8, 2013

Oh Plank Eye, Direct Me!


 In my line of work I hear “no” and it doesn’t usually bother me.  I do like "yes" better.  But in sales (and life) you have to learn to accept "No" and know there are lots of fish in the sea and I’m not everyone’s cup of tea, you can say safely.  That said, I do my best and do love what I do. 
Recently when I offered some of my services to someone, the response was one I’d heard many times before, one of loyalty for their current carrier “but I’ve been with them for 25 years” or something like that.  I admire and respect loyalty too. 
 
Recently when I received this response from a new pastor in the area, it struck me in a few ways, which made me think of my comfort zones and how I need to continue to challenge myself in order to grow….and not grow complacent in life – stagnant water isn’t a good thing.  Ironic is a word that comes to mind.
 
As I reflected on his occupation with his remarks, it hit me that as a new pastor, people will need to be open to being outside their comfort zone to accept him, get to know him and his worship style too.  To grow a church, new people who attend are trying something new – something outside their comfort zone.  As a Pastor (and congregation) he would understand that and work to make them feel at home, I would think. Obviously the changes he was making in his life with his new position held him to something he was familiar with for many years - so he was staying that course.  Sometimes people get stuck in a rut – the word calls us to  be open to the Holy Spirit and its leading – to respond and get out of our ruts, try new things, live life with open eyes for God’s direction.
 
We recently said goodbye to our church pastor of 27 years!  Man, we are going to miss our Pastor and his wife.  Long, loyal years of service and he was well liked by all!  So now, we’ll get to know someone new and it will be a growth time – a time of change for our congregation that fills us with joy for something new and exciting, while also a sadness as we leave the old and familiar.  We will be finding the balance for healthy church growth with an interim pastor for one year as we search for that next full time pastor. 
 
I think to myself – do I have “but I’ve been with them 25 years” of life habits that I should be reviewing – you bet I have some!  So I’ll go look at those planks in my eyes and see what closet cleaning needs to happen because I want growth, freedom and to follow the Holy Spirit in my life.
Lord, direct my paths in your way!
You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. ~ Psalm 16:11

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