Goodbye Bad Friend

I became quite familiar with someone this last year. Oh, I have known her since the day I was born, but somehow she and I haven't encountered each other before quite like we did this last year.

I have decided I do not like her. Nope. I do not like her at all!

She and I have argued, wrestled, debated, tried to bargain... all to no avail.

I asked her politely to leave, but let me tell you... she is a fighter. She does not fight nice. She is not polite. She is a scrapper. She is vicious.

I have realized that I can't bargain with her. I can't be polite with her. I can't give her only pieces to enjoy, for she demands everything.

She must go. She can not stay. I can't even let her come for a visit, for her desire is to completely take over.  Her presence leads to destruction in my soul and to those around me.

I have also found that she does not leave with the first request. She somehow, secretly and quietly, sneaks back in unannounced and begins what she is best at... taking over.

I am learning that to keep her away requires daily checking of the places and corners of my heart to make sure she is not hiding somewhere, quietly lurking, secretly working her magic to overtake once again.

She must leave. She leaves absolutely no room for Him. I am convinced He must have everything.

I have met face to face... my flesh woman, that part of me that is the sinful, selfish carnal nature.

Goodbye flesh woman. You've been a bad friend!

Ephesians 4:22-24

(NLT) "Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy."

(Message) "Everything—and I do mean everything—connected with that old way of life has to go. It's rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you." 

Wings and this Mother's Heart

While we were getting ready for the day, the radio was playing in the background. This is the song that was playing... have you heard it?
~~~~~
Find Your Wings
By Mark Harris

It's only for a moment you are mine to hold
The plans that heaven has for you
Will all too soon unfold
So many different prayers I'll pray
For all that you might do
But most of all I'll want to know
You're walking in the truth
And If I never told you
I want you to know
As I watch you grow

Chorus:
I pray that God would fill your heart with dream
And that faith gives you the courage
To dare to do great things
I'm here for you whatever this life brings
So let my love give you roots
And help you find your wings

May passion be the wind
That leads you through your days
And may conviction keep you strong
Guide you on your way
May there be many moments
That make your life so sweet
Oh, but more than memories

Chorus:

It's not living if you don't reach for the sky
I'll have tears as you take off
But I'll cheer as you fly
~~~~~

As the song was finishing my daughter came to me. The following is our conversation. Brief but profound...

DD: "Mom, I need you to help me."
Me: "Ok, what do you need help with?" (I'm thinking buttons, hair...)
DD: "I need you to help me find my wings." (Big grin crosses her face).

If she only knew, truly, what she had just asked for... and what that does to a mother's heart. *GULP*

Running... to Grace

I am tempted to run. Sometimes I don’t even know where to run, I just run. I am not talking about a physical running, but rather a running of my heart.

Questions come. Situations arise. Moments appear dark. Hopeless. Frightening.

To my humanness, waiting for clarity, answers, and direction would seem insanity. And so I lace up... and I run.  Sometimes in the wrong direction.

I run away from grace.  

Grace waiting. Grace longing.
 

Isaiah 30:18 (NIV) "Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!"

The Israelite's were seeking protection in Egypt. (vs. 2) They chose to carry out plans against what God had for them. (vs. 1) They opted to travel through dangerous territory (vs.6) to seek what they believed would be the answer to their need. (vs.7).

They silenced those who were bringing a word of the Lord. Instead, they asked for easy words. They requested pleasant words. They preferred lies. (vs. 10)

They ran from grace. 

Grace waiting. Grace longing.

Like the Israelites, I am often tempted to run to what seems my visible protection. An apparent immediate answer. An instant satisfying for the emotions swelling within.

I run to my Egypt. My Egypt takes many different forms. It might be food. It might be other people. It might be my work, or even my household chores. But I run.

When I stop running... When I turn and cry out to Him, there He is.

Ready.  

Grace waiting.  Grace longing.  Compassion rising.

He will surely respond (NLT)... The moment He hears (MSG)... As soon as He hears... (NIV)  (Vs.19)

Isaiah 30: 19 (MSG) "Cry for help and you'll find it's grace and more grace. The moment he hears, he'll answer."

All I need to do is stop running from grace, and instead run to grace.  To Him.

Look down.  Are your running shoes on?  Where are you running?  

To your Egypt?  Do you recognize your Egypt?  

Or are you running to Him?... Longing to be gracious.  Rising to show compassion.

He's ready.  He's waiting.

With Him, it's grace and more grace.

A Tunnel and a Fire Hose

Two different quotes have been raging through my being the last couple of days. They have become very real to what I am experiencing.

This one comes from my nursing school days:  "I see a light at the end of the tunnel, I just hope it's not a train."

And this one we often say at work:  "I feel like I'm drinking from a fire hose turned on at full force."


Now, if you'll please excuse me. I need a few days to make my way to the end of this tunnel.

I'm also going to attempt to find the nozzle to this fire hose and turn it down a notch or two.

See you on the other side...

Surfing and Grace

"...The good news about surfing is this:  If you miss one wave, if you fall off, if you wipe out, there's another wave coming right behind it.  God just keeps sending them.  He never runs out of waves.  He has an inexhaustible supply.  He's like a wave machine."

"The Bible's word for that is 'grace'."

--Excerpt taken from "God is Closer Than You Think" by John Ortberg


The good news about grace is this:  God just keeps sending it.  He never runs out.  He has an inexhaustible supply.  He's like a wave machine... of Grace.

I'm riding the waves today.  Want to join me?

How I Generate Extra Quiet

About a week ago I shared that I felt impressed to quiet myself and rest.  I admit, that's hard to do with a schedule, a toddler, teens, school and all else that encompasses my days.

I found myself doing those things that I often do to generate extra rest and quiet in an otherwise normal and busy day. 

1.  Set the Environment:  I put in a variety of CD's to play in the background while the activities continue.  I sometimes find my children even seem a bit more settled when I do this.  The  particular day I posted about quiet,  I was drawn to instrumental.  I have also found praise and worship music to be so effective for when I'm needing to settle my own heart and spirit.

2.  Step Away:  I often find that quieting the online noise helps to focus my heart towards quiet.  I shut down my computer, turn off the screen and step away.

3.  Screen the Calls: I admit it.  On days when I'm sensing the need and draw to extra quiet, I tend to screen my calls.  I most often let the call go to voice mail and then listen to the message.  If it is something that can wait, it does.  During these times I really try to quiet my own mind and mouth to speak only what is required for the moment.

4.  Speak His words:  I spend extra moments in the day reading and reminding myself of Scripture.  I turn the words over in my heart and mind.  Whether it's my scripture cards, grabbing my Bible for a quick verse, or just asking God to remind me of His Word that He wants to bring to my mind; I try to make my day intentionally focused on Him in extra measure as I am accomplishing what the activities of the day demand.

What things do you do when you are needing a bit more calm, quiet and rest in an otherwise ordinary and busy day?

My Children Have Faith in My Abilities... or Not

Setting the scene:  My daughter was watching Little House on the Prairie.  Laura was sitting at a table in the sunshine, working on her book.  Here's our conversation from there...

Me:  "Now that's what I want.  To be outside on a warm, sunny day with quiet to write."

Son:  "You want to write a book?"

Me: "I have a book idea in mind."

Son: "So, mom's going to be an author when she gets older."

Me:  "Just think of all the money you could have from it."

Son:  "If it's a good book that is."

Daughter (from out of nowhere):  "Well, maybe everyone will pay extra because she will be so old."
~~~~~
Too Funny.

But what do you say after that?....

A Bit of Housekeeping

I so appreciate each one of you that took the time to share your thoughts on the giveaway for Lisa Welchel's Book Friendship for Grown-Up's.

I recognize that many of you were vulnerable and shared from your heart.  I am personally learning that this is one step to deepening a friendship.  I do not take it lightly that you each did that here.

As I was reading each comment, I so wished I had a book to give to each one of you!  The randomly selected winners have been notified.

Again, thanks to each one who entered!

On a side note:  Shirl, would you please e-mail me at :  mqcorner@hotmail.com

Thanks!

What I Found in Leviticus

In the second week of reading through the Bible in 90 days, I encountered Leviticus.  For those of you currently doing the Bible in 90 days reading, you have found yourselves in the same place.

John Walton, the speaker in our DVD session, encouraged us to remember that "every law written reveals something about the lawgiver."

I began Leviticus with a mission. I wanted to discover something about the Lawgiver. I wanted God to be revealed.

Leviticus now has so much more meaning to me than just the book of laws and sacrifices. I will forever view Leviticus in a more personal way because of two truths that came through loud and clear as I read through this book.

These two truths revealed about the Lawgiver were not new to me. However, God said them so many times that I couldn't help but notice and have them drilled deep into my head and heart.

1. I am the Lord your God...
2. I am Holy...

"The word 'holy' appears more times in Leviticus than in any other book of the Bible. And in just nine chapters of the book, God states, 'I am the Lord' 47 times (NIV Study Bible, study note for Lev. 18:2)"

As I was reading through the details of this book, I was struck and saddened with the realization of how so often I take God for granted. My human mind can only grasp a small glimpse of His Holiness... and I am humbled.


Regardless of whether you're doing the 90 day reading or not...

What have you found while spending time in God's Word?


God Forbid
By Point of Grace
(Click on title to listen)

Undeserved

Guess what I did to deserve seeing this out my kitchen window?

Nothing.

Absolutely Nothing!

GRACE... Undeserved

"The creation of the universe and God's giving it to humanity was the beginning of grace.  The beach, the mountains, the lakes, the streams, the rainforest, the jungles, the plains-- all for you.  There is more beauty in this world than any one person can fully comprehend, greater abundance than any one person can consume.  Why?  That's the nature of grace.  Grace is never just enough.  Grace is always far more than enough."
-- Andy Stanley in "The Grace of God"

In what way have you noticed God's grace extended to you recently?

Friendship Giveaway

The news this last week of a woman posting to her 1048 "friends" on facebook that she had taken all of her pills, only to be found dead by her mother 17 hours later saddened me.

I cringe to think that we (myself included) could be losing sight of what friendship really is and what it means to have and be a friend. 

"It is so easy to think we are staying in touch with friends this way when, in reality, the touch is often while we are simply brushing by them as we are rushing through our busy lives that are too crowded for meaningful contact."  -- Lisa Welchel (caution regarding Facebook and Twitter)

The Book

"Friendship for Grown-Ups: What I Missed and Learned Along the Way"   By Lisa Welchel

"...Friendship is a challenge.  The vulnerability, trust, balance, grace, and time required to develop and maintain strong friendships do not come easily.... 

One day Lisa found that 'the desire to experience connection was stronger than the desire to be safe.'  She determined right then to finally understand friendship:  how to create one, sustain it, and experience the sheer joy of having it.  But it wasn't easy.  

Lisa writes from her heart and her head, sharing her story and helping women understand how to cope with the strengths and weaknesses of friendship, and basing all her advice on the foundation of our ultimate relationship with the Savior."  -- Excerpts from the back cover

I so appreciated this book.  Lisa shares her own hurts, struggles, and challenges... and then what she learned about defining and finding true friends.  Her words were not sugar coated to make finding and keeping true friendships sound easy and possible without some risk and work.  Instead, she told it like it is, putting herself out there in the process.

I was reminded that needing to need others is part of friendship.  She helped clarify some areas that I need to improve on in being a friend.  She discusses how to find safe friends, how to set healthy boundaries, and challenges the reader to get real... with themselves and with others.

Not only was this a book to read, it has become much like a handbook for me.  It includes "Questions for Reflection" AND "Practical Steps for Developing and Growing Friendships" that accompany each chapter.  In addition to those tools, it also includes 6 pages of conversation prompts to help you get to know a friend better.

Here's Lisa sharing about her book:




What to Win:
Five winners will each win ONE hardcover copy of Friendship for Grown-Ups by Lisa Welchel.
 

How to Win:
Comment and share your thoughts on the following question:   
(Be sure to attach an e-mail in some way so that I have a way to contact you.)

What do you find to be the biggest obstacle(s) in developing and deepening a friendship?


Extra Opportunities to Win:
Become a subscriber and/or follow on Facebook. (see right hand sidebar for options ).  Be sure to come back and tell me... or let me know that you already do.


Winners Notified:
The winners will be notified on Friday, January 14.


Here's to defining, developing and deepening friendships for all of us!

Invitation

Hello my friends.  Please come on in.  Make yourself at home.  The coffee's on and the muffins are out. 

Do you ever have so many thoughts and words running through your mind that it almost seems overwhelming?  Or is it just me?  It could be just me...

When these moments come, my tendency is to ramble, to talk, to just blurt out.  However, I have learned that practice is not always the best.  In fact, usually it's not.

To slow, to give the process some time, to wait does not come easily for me.  It does not feel natural.  But I am learning that it is often most beneficial.

This invitation is what has kept coming back to me.  And so, instead of sharing the post I had for today, I share with you this same invitation that I can't seem to get away from.


“Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.”
--Jesus.  Mark 6:31 (NLT)

The Challenge of Modeling

I am a model.  

Are you surprised? I have been at it for quite some time. I often forget that I am a model. It has become a natural part of my day. I don't work at it as much as I should. I need to remember this fact more often. I'm sure I would be much more effective if I would.

There is a great challenge that comes with modeling. The responsibility that accompanies modeling can be almost daunting and intimidating if I think about it much. It can lend itself to wanting to give up for fear I will be a complete failure.


You are a model.

Are you even more surprised?

We are all models...
*  whether we want to be or not
*  regardless of whether we think we are qualified or not
* whether we signed up for the job or not

I was reminded of this fact not so long ago. My MIL was sick. My daughter decided on her own that she would make her a card. I later saw her with a Bible in her lap copying words from it. This is not uncommon as she enjoys sitting and copying books word for word to another paper.

However, I soon learned she was copying from the Bible into the card for my MIL. Here is what she copied:

Acts 10:5-6
"Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter.  He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea." 

Do you find yourself chuckling? We did! It has nothing to do with the illness of my MIL and the get well wishes contained in the card.
I often include a Scripture in the cards that I send. I love God's Word and want to share it with others. Obviously, she has not yet connected the fact that I try to send a Scripture that also pertains to the message of the card that I am sending.

What she sees is a Bible open on my lap as I copy from it into the card. The content of the verse related to the card has not yet connected for her.

She was modeling what she had seen me do so many times. She reminded me, I am a model. The question is... What am I modeling?

That one question leaves me with a challenge to fill my day and many days to come. My hope is that the things I model are things worth repeating.

There has been a great task placed before me. Whether it be your children, other children, or just those around... I'm guessing you also face the same task.  It is the challenge of modeling.

Have you thought of yourself as a model before?  What things do you notice your children (or others) model after you?  What do you find are the greatest joys, and the greatest responsibilities of modeling?

But Noah Was Different...

Grace Notes, being hosted by Stacey, officially began today.

For the last week she has had us pondering Genesis 6:8.  I read through it and the surrounding verses in multiple versions.

What I found has had me challenged and thinking since.

"But Noah was different. God liked what he saw in Noah."(MSG)

 Noah was different...

Different Part 1: 

I knew the flood came because of the wickedness and evil of the people during that time.  I never noticed how God's own word described the wickedness. 

Gen. 6:5 (NLT) "The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil."

It was not just their actions that were evil.  It was everything they thought.  Everything they imagined.

Did you notice the descriptive words that are then included?  Consistently evil.  Totally evil.

It's not just my actions that He notices.  It's my thoughts.  It's my imaginations.  It's me in the depths of my being.

Different Part 2: 

When I look ahead to Verse 9 , it mentions something else that made Noah different.  

"Noah walked [in habitual fellowship] with God." (AMP)  "He waked faithfully with God." (NIV)

Fellowship.

Habitual.  Faithful.  Not just occasionally. 

With God.  It was his habit, his loyalty.

I have many habits, both good and bad.  Some are hidden, some seen.

One habit that I want obvious, intentional and too established to break in my own life... fellowship and walking with God.

"But Noah was different."(MSG)   

"Noah found favor."(NIV, NASB, NLT) 
"Noah found grace."(AMP) 
 
"God liked what he saw in Noah."(MSG)

"Grace has eyes to see our hearts."    -Stacey

New Reads for the New Year

Having a 2 year old and 2 teenagers in the house doesn't leave me much extra time to be online. I have had to become quite selective in how I use the time that I do have to be online. 

I have come across a couple of new blogs that I consider worth my time to follow. I have not been disappointed. I wanted to also share them with you.

Stacey at 29 Lincoln Avenue:

If you remember, my word for 2010 was "Grace".  Although I have a new word for 2011, it is so closely linked to grace that I am eager to see how God is going to mingle and mold the two.

Imagine my delight when I learned Stacey was going to focus on Grace.   She has had us pondering Genesis 6:8 and shares her thoughts on that with us today as Grace Notes officially begins.   
(I will post my own thoughts on this later today...)

If you are interested in being part of Grace Notes, head on over and let Stacey know you'd like more info.  I'm sure she'd be happy to send you the behind the scenes info.

I am so excited to see where this focus takes us!  

GRACE
a. the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God
b. the influence or Spirit of God operating in humans to regenerate and strengthen them



Traci Michele at Ordinary Inspirations

The day that she said, "Stop trying to fit your Bible into your life... but live in a way that the Bible becomes your life.  Your very breath.  Your next thought.  Your next touch." in this post,  is the day I moved her from a new read into my reads to follow.

And this post of hers is the one that inspired me to bundle up my children, head outside as it was getting dark, and make lots of tracks in the snow with our play.

And to encourage them to make their own snow angles... by making one myself.

If you are looking for a new read to begin the new year, these might be a good place to begin.
~~~~~
I'm always open for a good new read! 

Have you found a new read?  What reads do you find worth your time following? 

Bible in 90 Days: My Personal 10 Tips

I could never say before with 100% certainty that I had read the entire Bible.  I was pretty sure I had.  At some point.  In bits and pieces.

I knew I had read through many of the books of the Bible.  But all of them?

One thing I know for sure.  I had never done it in order or any type of organized fashion.

Mrs. Pear then read through it front to back in 87 days.  She introduced the 90 day challenge to my own heart.

I began the challenge the beginning of Oct.  I can't think of a better way to now end my year.  I can know for sure, I have read through the Bible.  And I did it in 89 days!


Why do I share this?  

This in no way makes me better, more spiritual or more holy.  Instead, I share this to say that I am one in desperate need of my God.  I also share this to say... if I can do this then you can too!

Just this last week I learned that Shawntele and Michelle, two of my blogging friends, have committed to begin this 90 day journey with this new year.  Having just come to the end of my own 90 day journey, I can't begin to tell you how excited I am for them!

I was asked to share a few tips I learned in my own personal journey and thought maybe some others might like to give the challenge a try and would like to read these as well.

So, here they are...

My personal 10 tips to make it through

1.  Read in story form, not study form:  This was a new approach for me.  Do not stop to study, compare or linger on any given section.  Instead, underline, highlight, or take quick notes of what you want to come back to.  

2.  Make it your book of choice:  I quickly realized that I would not get much other reading done during this time.  I had to be okay with that.  When there was time for reading, the Bible was my book of choice.

3.  Be determined:  I'll be honest, the amount of the reading was difficult some days.  It is a lot!  However, I believed that God would honor the time I was spending in His Word.

"You will never waste time in God's Word" - Beth Moore

4.  Keep reading:  If you get behind, do not quit!  To stop for even a few days may leave you feeling discouraged and that there's no way to catch up.  Just read, read, read.

"This is one of those things where the victory is not to the fast, the flashy or the fancy.  This is one of those things where the victory is to those who are faithful and persevere!"  -- Mrs. Pear

5.  Make it your anytime priority: Use small snippets of your time.  I often used 5 minute chunks throughout my day to read a chapter or two.  Do not think it all has to be read in one setting.  (When I did read in one setting it would take an average of 45-60 minutes.)

6.  Get ahead:  If you can do it, read ahead!  I found there were days I was able to read more than the reading for that day, and was glad I did.  There were other days where life just happened and I couldn't get the full amount of reading in.  I was also shocked at how quickly my buffer from reading ahead disappeared.

7.  Don't predict the fast read:   Do not slow the reading in some areas assuming you will catch up and gain ground in a book to come.  I thought Leviticus and Numbers would be struggles for me.  I actually found them to be fairly quick reads.  My personal struggle to get through came in Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekial. 

8.  Find Accountability:  This was key for me.  Not only did I commit to myself to do this, but I facilitated a small group of 9 other adults reading it with me.  Knowing we would be meeting weekly kept me on top of my reading.  Tell someone you are doing it.  Ask them to hold you accountable.  Ask them to cheer and encourage you along the way.

9.  Enjoy the process:  Remember this is God's story of extending His very self to us, His creation.  Look for Him!

10.  Pray:  Ask God to help you.  Ask God to reveal Himself to you.  Ask God to make you hungry for Him.  Thank God for inviting you to know Him. Pray, Pray, Pray

BONUS TIP:  Recognize true success:  Even if you do not keep the pace to get through it in the 90 days, keep pushing forward!  The process will keep you very conscious to be in God's Word much more than you would have been otherwise, or maybe ever have been.

Spending an abundance of focused and intentional time with God... now that's true success!

  

Have you ever read through the Bible?  Have you done the 90 day challenge?  What tips would you offer?  Are you thinking you might like to give it a try?  What is keeping you from it?

(I will answer questions related to this post here in the comment section so that everyone can benefit from the dialogue.)