Relationships

My Word for 2014: Relationships

My Verse for 2014: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another." -John 13:34

What You'll Find at My House

There's a pet alien in a jar sitting next to my computer.  I have a model dinosaur in my book shelf.  There are squinkies on the stairs.  One lone red sock on the coffee table, a stack of misc. cards, a snack cup with crumbs in it.  There's one leftover cupcake on the kitchen counter, some flash cards on the island and a stack of library books too.

But that's not all you will find in my house.

You'll find laughter.  LOUDNESS.  Creativity, encouragement, and celebration.  Sometimes tears, and then comforting.  Acceptance.  Helping hands, Open hearts, and camaraderie. 

Most of all, inside these walls, you will find LOVE.

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another." -John 13:34


  

On Turning 40

I am turning 40 this year.  It's no big deal really.  I loved my 30's and I don't expect that my 40's will be any different.  Some people may jest that I am getting old, but I don't feel all that old.  (OK, so maybe on some days I feel older than others, but that's normal.)

If someone were to ask me if I have accomplished everything I wanted to by this age, I would have to say no.  But that is not necessarily a bad thing.  I had a very different plan for my life when I was 20.  I was married and wanted to finish my college degree and teach.  My plans were to get established in my career and then start our family.  But then after a year of trying to pay for college on our own, we just couldn't afford it anymore.  So I applied to a Nanny agency and began to work for two families taking care of their children.

A while later I had a not so pleasant experience with one of those families and my Nanny career was abruptly ended.  My husband was working at a church and we couldn't afford for me to be jobless so I took a chance and applied at a bank as a teller.  I loved banking so much that once again my plans changed and I thought I could make a career in banking.  I took classes and learned the ropes and began to climb the corporate ladder slowly making my way from teller to assistant manager.  Life was good.  I enjoyed my job and there were still plenty of opportunities to advance.

Then life threw us another unexpected loop.

The church that my husband was working for informed him that they never intended to hire him full time.  Long story short, we packed our things and moved to Oregon, hoping for a better break.  There I still worked as a banker but life was pretty miserable for my husband.  After three months or so, the Pastor of our old church in Washington began to strike up a conversation with him, offering a job for not only him, but me also. 

And so my career plans changed again.

We moved back to Washington where I worked as the graphic design artist/Pastor's assistant.  The focus changed dramatically from my career to what God wanted to accomplish in my husband's life as a Worship Leader and eventually, Associate Pastor.  By now we had been talking about starting a family.  We didn't know it at the time, but we had a long journey ahead of us.

There were many doctor's visits, tests, prayers, and unanswered questions.  My heart longed to be a mother, but as the months and then years passed, nothing.  Finally, when we had almost given up hope, I received the good news from my doctor that I was pregnant.  We didn't tell anyone for the first several weeks for fear that I would lose the baby.  Once we did announce the news, it was a very joyful occasion.

Finally, I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up...a stay at home mom.

I worked as the church accountant for the first year of my baby girl's life.  A job to help pay the bills, part time, and we lived on church campus so I could bring her to work with me.  During that time I got pregnant with our second child and we knew we did not want to raise our family in Seattle, so my husband started looking for a job in a smaller town with a church as the Worship Pastor.

Almost a year after moving, baby three arrived.  18 months later we had moved to Spokane and baby number four arrived.  And two years later, we were blessed with baby number five.  We finally had the big family that we had always wanted.  And I was right where I wanted to be.  An at home mom taking care of my little ones.  Certainly not where I saw myself when we got married at 20, but exactly where my heart longed to be at age 33.  In fact, CD was born the day after my birthday on Thanksgiving, 2006.  It was a special Thanksgiving indeed.

So, have I accomplished all I set out to do by this point in my life?  Definitely not.  But I have no regrets.  Since 2006 we have moved back to my husband's home town and are very happy to raise our five children in this small-town atmosphere.  All of our children are in school now and I am working part time for my in-laws.  Go figure...I do their banking!

I have plenty of years ahead of me, in fact, my grandmother just turned 100 and she is still lives on her own, and gets around fairly well for someone of her age.  If I live that long, I hope I accomplish half as much as she.  But for now, I am content right in this place.  This season is treating me well and I intend to enjoy every moment of it.

Yes, 40 is looking very good to me right now.  I have learned that my plans are not always the best plans because Someone else is looking out for me.  He knows my heart even better that I do.  For this, I am eternally grateful.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." -Jeremiah 29:11

 

Siesta Scripture Memory Verse 21

I woke up this morning with a bad attitude.  Not gonna lie.  I had a pretty hectic week and I wanted to just hide away today and not deal with reality.  I was at the kitchen sink doing the dishes and said to my husband "Sometimes I wish I could just take a personal day, when I could just read a book, drink some tea, watch a movie, or take a nap."  He simply stated "So why don't you do that today?  You need to take a day.  You are in a grumpy mood and you need to take a day off."

Wait, what?  Did he just tell me I'm grumpy?  He's supposed to be all supportive and let me gripe for a while.  EXCEPT THAT...one day I gave him permission to tell me when I am playing the martyr.  I asked him to tell me to snap out of it when I am having a bad attitude.  And that's what he did today.  It was done in love and I pouted for a few minutes and then I realized that he was totally right. 

So as I was eating the omelet that he so generously made for me for breakfast, I thought about how I could have a better attitude for the rest of my day.  That's when Philippians 2:4-5 popped into my mind.

"Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.  Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus." (NASB)

Obviously somewhere in the back of my mind I knew the reference to having the attitude of Christ Jesus, or it wouldn't have popped into my head when I needed it.  But I had to go to my concordance to find exactly where it was located, and the precise wording.  So I figure, why not memorize it for SSMT verse 21?

As I was reading Philippians 2 to get a feel for the context of these verses, I began to realize something.  Paul didn't tell the people to stop looking out for their own personal interests.  He didn't ask them to play the martyr and only look after everyone else.  He simply told them to ALSO look out for the interests of others.  Care about others needs.  Watch each others' backs, so to speak. 

The NIV version of verse 5 says "In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus."  That word "relationships" is really what it is all about.  It takes the focus off of just me.  I am still concerned with taking care of my own needs, but I also look out for the needs of those around me.  It removes the selfish ambition and creates an attitude of "we're all in this together."  As Paul says in Phil. 2:2 "Make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose." (Emphasis mine.)

For the next two weeks I will be working on my attitude as I memorize Philippians 2:4-5.  I am so thankful for the Holy Spirit, who brought this verse to mind on a day when I really needed it.  Oh - and it doesn't hurt that I have a husband who helps me change my bad-attitude into a better-attitude, with love and encouragement.  Thanks honey!

Siesta Scripture Memory Verse 19!

Hard to believe that it is already October 1st.  I wouldn't know it, but for the weather change!  In this little valley the weather goes from hot and dry to windy, rainy, and and array of color overnight.  I can't complain much.  I love all the beautiful trees here in the fall.  They are painted with reds and oranges and every color in between.  Plus I love to curl up with a cup of tea and a good book and have me some peaceful quiet time if I can find it!  (Five kids makes that a little rare.)  This afternoon I happen to be home with a sick son, so I am soaking in the down time while I make sure he is as comfortable as possible.

I knew a couple of days ago which verses I was going to memorize for the first half of October.  I was reading a passage for my Bible Study and they just jumped off the pages at me.  I've looked them up in several versions, but my favorite translation to sit down and study with, NASB, used the actual word "time" in it, so I chose that wording to memorize.  Here's a photo of my handy dandy spiral notebook with my memory verses in it...

 

 

Making the most of your time...

 

I can't tell you how many times I have thought to myself, even today, how there's not enough time in the day to get everything accomplished that is on my list!  These verses really spoke to me in a powerful way.  I was moved to look at exactly where my time DOES go during the day and evaluate what might be changed for the better.  Let's just say that if I were going to do a series on this blog, it would definitely NOT be on time management.  I often feel like I'm running in circles with constant interruptions and distractions all around me.

 

The NIV version of these verses uses the words "making the most of every opportunity" in verse 16.  So the question here is "how do I use my time wisely?"  Well, looking a little further into this passage, Paul says in verse 17, "do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is." There it is.  The good, perfect, pleasing will of the Lord.  Now I could probably write on THIS topic for hours...but I don't have time!  *Grin*

  

Instead, allow me to share three little instructions that I know are God's will for each and every one of us as Christ followers.  

 

Rejoice.

Pray.

Give Thanks.

 

I only put them in that order because that's how they appear in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.  "Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." Each of these instructions are equally important in the life of a believer.

 

How does this all tie back into my memory verse and making the most of my time?  Well, that's easy.  Practicing those three little things on a daily basis helps me to understand what the will of God is.  And when I understand what the will of the Lord is, then I am able to make the most of my time, no matter how my day might unfold.

 

So there you have it.  That's what God is working on in my life right now.  He reminds me to take time for a little RPGT whenever I feel overwhelmed with the details of my calendar or to-do list.  Because He is so faithful to meet us right where we are.

 

Here's to a great October!

-Melissa 

 



My Life in Phone Photos

Time for another "My Life in Phone Photos!"  I stole the idea a while back from Rachel Anne over at Home Sanctuary.  These are just a few pictures of what's been going on in our lives lately. :)

This is a billboard that I pass by every day on my way home from work.  It always reminds me how awesome our God is. (Even though that's not what it's advertising.)  It is also a prompt for me to say my memory verse for the second half of September out loud.  "For the Lord your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the AWESOME God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe." -Deuteronomy 10:17 NASB

This is a picture of my girl LR.  She drew this self portrait for open house this week.  She loves wolves so that is a wolf on her shirt.  I sure do love that girl!  The first three weeks of school is a whirlwind of activity and we finished it off with open house for my gradeschoolers on Wednesday night.

This is my girl RL after her first meet.  She has joined Cross Country this year.  I'm so proud of her for setting goals and working hard to reach them.  She ran her first practice in the rain this week and was soaked to the bone but still smiling when I picked her up!  Now that's dedication.

Back-tracking to the first day of school.  :)  Every year I make the kids pose for me so I can get another "first day" picture.  Left to right... CD, 1st grade, LR, 3rd grade, BC, 5th grade, JS, 6th grade and RL, 7th grade.  They sure are growing up fast!

BC flying off the diving board during our "Tent City" weekend over Labor Day.  We always have one last bash with the family over labor day weekend.  We BBQ, swim, and play lots of games.  That's JS and BC splashing around below.

CD being his goofy self...lost a couple of teeth over the Summer.  The new ones are finally starting to grow in.  I loved his toothless smile all Summer long though!

So that's us...Coming out of Summer and moving into Fall.  Changing seasons, changing lives...I'm excited to see what God has in store around the bend.

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens" -Ecclesiastes 3:1

Final picture...Summer changing to fall in my little valley. :)
   

SSMT Verse 17 - Help!

School started this week, and one of the things I always tell my children when they are in school is "if you don't understand something or have questions, don't be afraid to ask for help."

That's good sound advice, right?

It's important that my kids know that it is ok to ask an adult when they need help solving a problem, learning to do something correctly, clarifying instructions and rules, or even getting directions to their next class. (For my 6th grader, who just started Middle School this year.)  There is no shame in admitting you need a little help.  We've all been there.

Even me...

What's good advice for my kids is good advice for me, right?

Why then, is it so hard for me to ask for help when I need it?  Perhaps it is because I expect too much of myself as an adult, mom, wife, homemaker, employee, and daughter.  Um, that's a lot of hats to juggle.  Maybe it's because I'm a bit of a perfectionist and I see myself as failing in some of those areas above mentioned.

Whatever the reason, I think after this week I have realized that it is ok, in fact, necessary, for me to recruit help managing the several different areas of my life.  For instance, the kids are old enough that they can help assemble their lunches for school.  And they can even do their own laundry, or at least help with their laundry in the afternoons.  They can also help themselves to a snack if they are hungry when they get home from school.

Those are all physical things that help me stay organized and take a little pressure off my daily schedule.  Let's talk a little about the spiritual side of things.

I live in a valley, so on most days when I am driving anywhere or even just sitting and looking out my dining room window, I look up to see the beautiful hills surrounding us.  They are breathtaking in any season.  In the Fall (the approaching season), they change colors.  Into Winter, they turn white with fresh snow.  Then in the Spring you can see the fields of rolling wheat and rows of grapevines or whatever crop is in season growing new.  Even in the Summer when things are dry the hills are a variety of color.  I love to watch the change and gaze out into the beauty of it all.

When I was determining what verse I wanted to memorize for Siesta Scripture Memory Team this first half of September, a particular psalm came to mind.  It is one that I have probably read again and again, but never taken time to memorize.  It is Psalm 121:1-2

"I lift my eyes up to the mountains -
Where does my help come from?

My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth."

I have the ultimate helper on my side: the Lord.  What a comfort to know that any question, any problem, any sadness or hardship that I come to Him with, He is able to help!

Every time I look at the hills for the next two weeks I will repeat these verses to myself and remember that God is my helper.

When I start to feel overwhelmed, (and maybe a bit sorry for myself,) I will remember where my help comes from - first and foremost, God - and then know that it is ok to ask for help.

The psalmist closes Psalm 121 with "The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever."

He's looking out for me.  He knows September is one of my busiest, craziest months.  The chaos of it all can often get to me and cause high levels of anxiety.  But not if I remember who my helper is.  Not if I keep my eyes and my thoughts focused on Him.

Philippians 4:23
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God."

I'm so thankful that He is my helper.  How about you?