Slow Down!

The other day I ran into someone I hadn't seen in while. When she asked what had been going on I just said “Oh, you know, go to work, go home, cook, eat, watch TV, go to bed and wake up just to start the cycle over again.” She just responded that she knew what I meant.

Later that day I thought about that conversation. We live in a fast-paced world and don't take enough time to enjoy life. Think about how you spend your day. The alarm blares and we roll out of bed. Almost immediately we jump into our routines. Be it showering and ready for work, or getting the kids out of bed and ready for school. We rush out the door and head to our jobs. There, we do what we need to do, watching the clock for our cue to head home. Once there, we have dinner to cook, dishes to wash, kids to get settled, etc. before we can sit down for a little while and watch TV or read, pushing the day out of our minds. All this and it doesn't include the little emergencies that crop up. No wonder we tired and drained. There just doesn't seem to be enough time to get everything done.

The way our lives are going, we don't stop to just relax and enjoy the beauty around us. Whether it be sitting in your yard, enjoying a sunset or playing ball with your kids. When was the last time you took time to just have fun and actually enjoy the day?

Even God rested after six days of creation. So if God rested, what makes us think we don't need to. Perhaps you can get up 15 minutes earlier and drink your coffee outside, enjoying the early morning. Maybe you can make a point of spending 5 or 10 minutes of relaxing when you get home from work. Spend a few minutes talking and listening to your spouse and children.  

Whatever it is you can do to “stop and smell the roses”, do it. Why don't you take a few minutes and enjoy the beauty of nature by watching this clip.

A Mother's Love

Mother....the woman who carried you in her belly for 9 months and gave you life. Everyone has a mother, not one person is exempt. And every mother has made mistakes. Ask one. If she had it to do over again, there are things she would have handled differently. You see, motherhood does not come with a manual. A mother just does the best she can for her children. Why? Because there is a love bond that no one can match. That love develops in her inner being while her child develops within her. Granted, some women have made terrible decisions about their own lives which affect her child. But even in bad circumstances, that woman has a deep rooted love for them. Perhaps she doesn't know how to show love. Perhaps her judgment is clouded by addictions or other circumstances. Perhaps she has medical conditions that prevent her from being the ideal mother.

Its very much like our relationship with God. We are His children, He is our Father, and there is a love bond like no other. Sometimes we make bad decisions but we still love Him. There are even times we get mad at God, but the love is still there. Perhaps there are times we don't feel or act very loving towards Him, but we do. At times like that our feeling of love is clouded. The love is still there. 

With Mother's Day coming next Sunday, remember to show her your appreciation. It doesn't have to be a fancy, expensive gift or a dozen roses. It can be something as simple as making a phone call to tell her you love and appreciate her. Maybe just a ”thank you”, letting her know that you appreciate her efforts. 

Some of our mother's have passed on. But we can still celebrate her life. Perhaps cooking her favorite meal, looking at family pictures, talking about things you have done together, etc. When a mother passes, it leaves an hole in your heart. Take some time to fill that hole with loving memories. That is one of the greatest tributes we can give her.

“The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new.”

Spring Cleaning

A couple of weeks ago I tackled spring cleaning. An entire weekend of scrubbing, washing, polishing, etc. What a job that was! Its amazing at the what you find to clean when you start looking. About half way through I was wondering why I had started this project.

The answer was simple, the weather was warming up. After months of being closed up to the cold winter, we could finally open windows and break out summer clothes. Spring, a time when trees and flowers start to bloom, and the freshness of early mornings fill the air. Time to freshen up the house, clean those baseboards, sweep out the cobwebs. 

But it is definitely work! I was not excited about the second day of cleaning. However, I had to finish. I was committed. A half cleaned house just doesn't work, I wanted the entire house to be done. At the end of that weekend, I was just glad it was over. 

Its great to come home to a clean, fresh house. Everything sparkles and shines. But maintenance is required to keep it that way. However, those weekly cleanings are a snap compared to deep cleaning. 

This got me to thinking. When we first come to God, there is a lot in our lives that need cleaning. Some of that is deep cleaning, which is not always pleasant. All that scrubbing can hurt! But when the cleansing is complete, we sparkle and shine with the love of God. But just as in our spring cleaning project, we require maintenance. God is continually working and cleaning us up. Sometimes there are areas that require more scrubbing, but sometimes we just need a dusting.

So the next time you are cleaning your house, be thankful that God has provided you a house to clean, just as He provided you a Savior.

Through the Fog

The other day I was sitting on the porch, drinking coffee and enjoying the morning. As I took in the scenery around me, I noticed the mountains were gone! I strained my eyes to at least see the mountainous outlines, but to no avail. The lush greenery of the pasture and trees were shimmering with dew as the morning sun shone on them. The birds were visible and singing, but still no mountains. I thought that if I didn't know better and someone told me there were mountains there, it would be hard to believe.

That got me to thinking about faith. The bible defines faith as “...the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Heb 11:1) The mountains! I couldn't see them, yet I KNEW they were there. That morning, God gave me the perfect example of faith!

As I sat and reflected, the fog slowly began to dissipate. As it lifted, I could vaguely distinguish the mountains. However, I had to really look for them. As I stayed focused on the vanishing mist, the mountains slowly began to take shape. By the time I finished my coffee, they were once again visible. 

You see, its just like that in our walk with God. We haven't seen Him, yet we KNOW He is there. If we just stay focused on what we do know, the fog will lift and we will begin to see His majestic presence around us. I thought about the times God feels a million miles away and realized its my view that is clouded. He is and always will be with me, right by my side. After all, He promised never to leave or forsake us. (Heb 13:5) 

What started out to be just another day turned into a wonderful time of receiving God's blessing. So the next time your path appears blocked or non-existent, stay focused on what you know. Don't let your circumstances cloud your vision. The fog will begin to lift and you will once again see your path. 

God's Cake

When things go wrong, as they sometimes do, we wonder why God allows it. But if you stop to think about it, those tough times somehow work to our advantage. The next time you are struggling through situations, remember God's cake.

"A daughter is telling her Mother how everything is going wrong, she's failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away. Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a snack, and the daughter says, 'Absolutely Mom, I love your cake.'

'Here, have some cooking oil,' her Mother offers.
'Yuck' says her daughter.

'How about a couple raw eggs?' 'Gross, Mom!'
'Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?'
'Mom, those are all yucky!'

To which the mother replies: 'Yes , all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake! '

God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!"