Greatest Lesson

As I pulled up to the red light I reached over to change the radio station when all of a sudden I was in the back seat. I could see the sky and I could feel alot of bumping and could hear crashing but I couldn't quite figure out what was going on and how in the world I had ended up in the back seat.

Once I felt my truck stop moving I slowly sat up and that is when I realized I had been in an accident. I got out of my truck, looked around and thought "Wow, that was weird." I wasn't seriously injured but rattled enough to not really know what to do or how to handle anything.

After speaking with the insurance company I was informed that my vehicle was a total loss. It was a birthday present from Shane. It was my "dream" truck and we had only made 5 payments on the truck so our feelings were quite hurt! Honestly, it was a blessing in disguise because we could not afford the payments.

As the days began to settle and we realized that we would receive enough insurance money to pay the truck off we began to start looking for another vehicle. The rental car was getting quite small and we had to do something. As Shane made his way to the car lot where we have done business for years I called the salesman and told him that I did not want a used truck. I had a brand new truck that I was driving and I refused to have a used one now. He met Shane at the door and gave him my instructions and they began to browse the new trucks. Ultimately, Shane found one, called me and upon my inspection we purchased the truck. It wasn't just like the one that had been a total loss but it was a nice truck but more importantly it was NEW!

As the months wore on I began to hate this new truck. The payments were too big, it was hard making that payment every month and honestly, it just didn't have the luster that I wanted in a truck. It drives nice, looks nice, is fairly comfortable but honestly...it's just a truck! Big deal! I finally came home one day and broke down and shared my feelings with Shane. I told him this just wasn't the truck and I really didn't like it and I wanted a used one! I wanted one with a smaller payment, something that would fit in our budget better! Well, as the ole story goes...Shane calls the salesman and tells him about this epiphany that I had. The salesman laughs and says "Shane, I hate to tell you this but due to the economy and the gas prices the truck that you bought can now be purchased for about $10,000 LESS than what you bought it for. Man, ya'll are stuck!"

Stuck!!!!! What?!?!? Once the dust settled and reality set in I realized what I had done...what we had done. Every single day of every single week of every single month I climb into that truck, crank it and thank God for lessons learned! See, He tried to save us from a payment we couldn't afford but since we were hard headed and had to do things our own way we are now living with the fire so to speak!

Oh how many times do we go through our lives thinking we know is best and do what we want, when we want without seeking God's guidance? I would like to say that now I seek God first every single time but that would be a lie. Many times I still get too big for my britches and think I know what's best but He always whips my tail right then and there and reminds me that He knows best!

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord. 'They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.'" Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT). Lessons learned...He has a plan...He knows what is best for us...when are we going to let him reveal that to us?

My List

It's funny how things have a way of working out. Remember how yesterday I said that I just randomly clicked on Psalm 100 but instead I went to Psalm 24. Well...today I was lead to Psalm 100 and was amazed!

"Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation." Psalm 100 (NLT)

Our pastor challenged us this past Sunday to be thankful and to make a list off 100 things we are thankful for. My list is as follows:

1. My Jesus because when He took human form He had a choice and He chose me!

2. My husband because he lets me rant and rave without taking it personal...most of the time!

3. My daughter because even though she is growing up she still makes me feel needed.

4. My son because at the age of 13 he is teaching me patience!

5. My parents because through it all they are always there!

6. My sister because God specifically chose her just for me!

7. My house because it is a roof over my head and walls around my sides.

8. My job...even though I don't care for it very much some days.

9. My church because they always love me and they always tell me the truth.

10. The boys in my Sunday School class (3 & 4 year olds) because they teach me more than I teach them.

11. My truck because it is the biggest lesson I have ever actually learned in all my life. (That's a story for another day).

12. My eyes so that I can see the wonderful things God has in store for me.

13. My ears so that I can hear God when he speaks to me.

14. Birmingham traffic because it most definitely keeps me on my toes.

15. People who ride their brakes because maybe, just maybe they are slowing me down and preventing me from being in an accident.

16. My boss who is a wonderful Christian woman!

17. My cat because she makes me laugh!

18. My dog because she has always protected us and lets me know when something isn't right outside!

19. My co-workers who allow me to just be me.

20. My friends because they look past my faults.

21. Sumiton Christian High School because they accepted Kristina and took her in when she was at her lowest.

22. Jason because he was able to get to Kristina and help pull her out of a pit that I just couldn't seem to reach in to.

23. Alabama football because they give me good exercise every Saturday!

24. My hair because alot of women today had to put on a wig.

25. My aches because they let me know I'm alive.

26. My heart because although it isn't always in the best shape it beats!

27. Music because it gives me words when I just can't find them.

28. This blog because it allows me to speak words that otherwise would stay rattled in my head.

29. Flowers because they make me stop and take a moment.

30. Fall because watching the leaves change and then fall remind me that everyone changes.

31. Winter because it makes everything seem new.

32. Spring because the world looks as if it is waking up.

33. Summer because the sun makes me smile.

34. The beach because when I am there I feel very close to God!

35. Road trips because they make me giggle like a teenager.

36. Walgreens because they ALWAYS have my prescriptions ready on time.

37. My doctor because she is also my friend!

38. My hormone pills because they keep me from killing someone! lol (My family is thankful for this one too!)

39. My nieces and nephews because they are just them!

40. Gas prices because they remind me that when all else is falling something goes up!

41. My pastor and his family because they are honest friends of mine!

42. Ryan because he makes Kristina smile all the time.

43. Basketball because it makes Gabe try harder and harder!

44. Lynette for telling my Mom about the Neti-Pot and Gabe actually being able to breathe now!

45. Fritz Courington because he reminds me to never give up!

46. Leigh Brooks because she reminds me to just be honest and everything else falls into place.

47. Our youth pastor for keeping our youth busy and active.

48. Black Friday because it makes it feel like Christmas!

49. Co-workers who I don't seem to get along with because they make me keep my mouth shut!

50. Magic 96.5 because they play Christmas music 24/7 during the holidays!

51. Mtn Dew because it is MTN DEW!

52. Christmas tree lights because they make me pray!

53. Christmas trees because at night when the kids are asleep make me peaceful!

54. My bed because it is warm and cozy.

55. Sales because there is always a sale just when I need it the most!

56. K-Mart because they seem to have what Wal-Mart doesn't and vice versa.

57. Bath and Body Works because they make the world smell good!

58. Babies because they are the closest thing to heaven I ever hold.

59. Taco Bell because when you need a night out but you're broke they are there for you!

60. Facebook because I have been able to reconnect with people.

61. Being a preacher's kid because it has taught me to persevere.

62. Having a 16 year old because it has taught me to have faith.

63. Being a teenage mom because otherwise I would have never had children!

64. Shoes because although you and I could buy the same pair...I'll never walk in yours and vice versa.

65. Hats because they make me giggle.

66. Feathers because they are so unique.

67. Snow because I rarely get to see it.

68. Christmas because my wonderful Savior was born that day!

69. Small kitchens so that you bump into each other while fixing a holiday dinner!

70. Microwaves because you can heat and re-heat.

71. Carpet because it keeps my feet warm.

72. Hardwood floors because it gives me something to wish for.

73. The American flag because it is my heritage.

74. Soldiers because they fight when no one else will.

75. Families of soldiers because they must let go for me and you.

76. The internet because you can learn alot if you chose too.

77. Chemo because it has saved so many lives.

78. Mammograms because although they hurt like the dickens they detect breast cancer early!

79. Children's Hospitals because they care about the little things you and I never think about.

80. St. Jude's Hospital who helps families who have lost everything and still need help.

81. The Jimmy Hale Mission who give men a second chance.

82. Jessi's Place who give women and children a place to go and be safe.

83. Dr. Thacker because he has made my children have pretty straight teeth!

84. Jay because he was able to actually fix Kristina's car!

85. Dennis Auto Sales because they gave us a really good price on Kristina's car.

86. The Dollar Tree because when you are broke you can still shop because everything is just $1!

87. Christmas cards because they make my heart full.

88. Family pictures because that means your family is still together.

89. Texting because some days that is the only way I can talk to my children!

90. Pictures because they remind me of things of the past.

91. Memories because they are mine forever and always.

92. Weddings because they are about love.

93. Funerals because they remind you about love.

94. Puppies because their breath makes me say "awwww"

95. Kittens because they play with something as simple as a piece of string.

96. Paperclips because they hold it all together yet we never appreciate them until you can't find one!

97. Glasses/contacts because they allow me to see!

98. White out because it fixes my mistakes.

99. Spell check because I'm not the best speller.

100. You because you make me feel as though my words touch your lives and hearts!

What's your list?

Psalm 24

As I drove into work today I was thinking about my heart. I was thinking about it's condition lately. I was thinking about being tired and tired of being tired. I was thinking about Thanksgiving and then Christmas. Putting up the tree(s) and decorating the house and the yard. I was thinking about work today and how I can't wait for 5:00 tomorrow. I was thinking about how this is the first holiday that Kristina wants to share with her boyfriend and how weird that is for me. I was thinking of how to make it all work. I was thinking about what ingredients I need for the sweet potato casserole I need to make and how Kristina wants to cook a dish this year too. I was thinking about giving Gabe the task of rummaging through our building outside to find an extension cord that I couldn't find last night using only the light of a flash light. I was thinking...

As I sat down at my desk and began to think about what I was going to type on my blog today I just randomly clicked on Psalm 100 and then stopped before I could even read it as my eyes wandered up to the calendar that is posted directly in front of me. November 24th...24....24.... so I closed Psalm 100 and opened Psalm 24 and boy did I need Psalm 24. Just when I'm thinking and thinking and thinking my sweet Lord brings me back to where I need to be....

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.

The world and all its people belong to him.

For he laid the earth’s foundation on the seas

and built it on the ocean depths.

Who may climb the mountain of the Lord?

Who may stand in his holy place?

Only those whose hands and hearts are pure,

who do not worship idols

and never tell lies.

They will receive the Lord’s blessing

and have a right relationship with God their savior.

Such people may seek you

and worship in your presence,

O God of Jacob.

Open up, ancient gates!

Open up, ancient doors,

and let the King of glory enter.

Who is the King of glory?

The Lord, strong and mighty;

the Lord, invincible in battle.

Open up, ancient gates!

Open up, ancient doors,

and let the King of glory enter.

Who is the King of glory?

The Lord of Heaven’s Armies —

he is the King of glory.

Psalm 24 (NLT)

These Are The Days...

November 23rd...October 31st...these two days were supposed to be very prominent days in my life. I was 12 months pregnant (or so it felt like) when I my eyes opened on November 23, 1992. The doctor had told me from day one that November 23rd would be THE day and at 18 years old I figured they knew more than I did so I lived for this day. It was just like the day before...nothing happened. As I laid down in bed that night I was still pregnant. Kristina was not in my arms and I thought to myself "I'm going to be 30 years old and still pregnant with her!" I was being punished...I JUST KNEW IT! But, as has been her nature since she took her first breath...she does things in her own time. When she's ready, when she's comfortable. So, she came six days late and made her grand entrance on November 29th.

As October 1st approached I began to countdown because I just wasn't too sure how much longer I could handle waddling around with Gabe. I had always heard that the pregnancy of a girl and a boy are very different and I agree. I think boys just suck the life right out of you, literally! Each day was a struggle and a triumph just by waking up and making it through the day. I wasn't quite sure how in the world I was going to make it to October 31st and then just the thought of a Halloween baby made my stomach hurt. Not that there is anything wrong with October 31st I just didn't want my precious Gabriel born on that day. As the days drudged by I began to realize that he wasn't going to wait. And, just as he has done his entire life, he had to come early. To this very day Gabe must be first in line, take his plate first, and carries the weight of the world on his shoulders if he finishes 2nd. So, in Gabe fashion, he made his grand entrance on October 12th....three weeks early!

Instead of November 23rd and October 31st being absolute blessings in my life, November 29th and October 12th are. But, the funny thing is...November 23rd and October 31st still take my breath away. Funny how what you think doesn't mean anything ends up meaning more than you ever imagined. After all, isn't every day the day the Lord made? "This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24 (NLT).

We spend so much time focusing on what we think is important that we often miss out on what actually is. I love my children's birthdays. Each year I cry over their impending adulthood and beam with pride over their accomplishments. I giggle as I look back at pictures and realize how much they have changed and are changing. I make sure to have a talk with them each about where they've been, where they are and where they're going. But...there is just something about the day that was supposed to be. It is something that I sort of hold close to my heart all on my own. Maybe its a day between me and the Lord. I don't know. But, every day is THE DAY because the Lord made it! Each day is a building block on who we are going to be tomorrow. Each morning is a clean slate and each night is a lesson learned. These are the days...

Not Always The Way You Thought

One day Saul said to David, "Here is Merab, my eldest daughter. I want to give her to you as your wife. Be brave and bold for my sake. Fight God's battles!" But all the time Saul was thinking, "The Philistines will kill him for me. I won't have to lift a hand against him."

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David, embarrassed, answered, "Do you really mean that? I'm from a family of nobodies! I can't be son-in-law to the king."

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The wedding day was set, but as the time neared for Merab and David to be married, Saul reneged and married his daughter off to Adriel the Meholathite.

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Meanwhile, Saul's daughter Michal was in love with David. When Saul was told of this, he rubbed his hands in anticipation. "Ah, a second chance. I'll use Michal as bait to get David out where the Philistines will make short work of him." So again he said to David, "You're going to be my son-in-law."

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Saul ordered his servants, "Get David off by himself and tell him, 'The king is very taken with you, and everyone at court loves you. Go ahead, become the king's son-in-law!'"

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The king's servants told all this to David, but David held back. "What are you thinking of? I can't do that. I'm a nobody; I have nothing to offer."

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When the servants reported David's response to Saul, he told them to tell David this: "The king isn't expecting any money from you; only this: Go kill a hundred Philistines and bring evidence of your vengeance on the king's behalf. Avenge the king on his enemies." (Saul expected David to be killed in action.)

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On receiving this message, David was pleased. There was something he could do for the king that would qualify him to be his son-in-law! He lost no time but went right out, he and his men, killed the hundred Philistines, brought their evidence back in a sack, and counted it out before the king—mission completed! Saul gave Michal his daughter to David in marriage.

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As Saul more and more realized that God was with David, and how much his own daughter, Michal, loved him, his fear of David increased and settled into hate. Saul hated David.

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Whenever the Philistine warlords came out to battle, David was there to meet them—and beat them, upstaging Saul's men. David's name was on everyone's lips. 1Samuel 18:17-30 (MSG)

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So...has that ever happened to you? Have you ever made a plan and then it back fired on you? How many times do we think we know how to handle a situation to only find out that we are on the losing end? Yep, I raise my hand on that one! I wish I could add to this story with some wonderful insight but I can't. I think the story says all it needs to say all by itself. My only question is...which one are you...Saul? or David?

And There Ya Have It

A few weeks back work was crazy! We had a case that was coming up for trial and the case was ten years old so there was a lot of records, pleadings, letters, and just papers everywhere. We were copying pictures and blowing up exhibits, scanning and placing documents on CDs for trial when all of a sudden the case settled. Thank you Lord it settled! My attorney laughs all the time at me when a case settles because I just jump up and down like Jim Carrey did in Liar Liar and scream "Settle! Settle! Settle!"

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After the dust settled down a little bit my attorney gave me the most precious gift, a copy of The Message. Oh I know a lot of people may frown on that but I just love that version of the Bible. I am able to understand it and it reads like the book that it was intended to be. I'm not a college graduate nor am I any type of scholar and I have so much junk floating around in my head that I need something that is straight to the point and makes perfect sense to me and The Message does just that.

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So, every day before I take the walk into my office I open up my Bible and snatch me a word and the one I got today has intrigued me. It comes from Amos 5 and it is entitled Raw Truth Is Never Popular. As I begin to read these passages I just began to think about how hard the truth is to hear. I don't know about you but I walk around in my own little bubble and I don't pay attention to much that goes on around me and when something happens and I get a big dose of reality right in my face I don't tend to like it.

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I don't really think I could add anything else to these passages so I'm just going to share them with you and I pray that you get what you need from it today because I surely did. I must say...if the writer of Amos could have started it out with "Hey Lori Goodwin...here's a little shut up juice for you..." it would have been well fitted!

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"Woe to you who turn justice to vinegar and stomp righteousness into the mud.Do you realize where you are? You're in a cosmos star-flung with constellations by God, A world God wakes up each morning and puts to bed each night. God dips water from the ocean and gives the land a drink. God, God-revealed, does all this. And he can destroy it as easily as make it. He can turn this vast wonder into total waste. People hate this kind of talk. Raw truth is never popular. But here it is, bluntly spoken: Because you run roughshod over the poor and take the bread right out of their mouths, You're never going to move into the luxury homes you have built. You're never going to drink wine from the expensive vineyards you've planted. I know precisely the extent of your violations, the enormity of your sins. Appalling! You bully right-living people, taking bribes right and left and kicking the poor when they're down. Justice is a lost cause. Evil is epidemic. Decent people throw up their hands. Protest and rebuke are useless, a waste of breath. Seek good and not evil — and live! You talk about God, the God-of-the-Angel-Armies, being your best friend. Well, live like it, and maybe it will happen." Amos 5:7-14 (MSG)

...Life...

Trials/endings - struggles/solutions - love/hate - war/peace - lost/found - high/low - here/gone - heartache/joy - emptiness/fullness - hunger/fullness - missing/complete - shallow/over-flowing - questions/answers...isn't all of that what life is about?

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I'm starting to learn more and more about myself. My tongue gets me in alot of trouble and I speak before I think. Some days my mouth is independent from my brain I do believe. I react instead of being still and I talk instead of shutting up! I mope around instead of finding the glimmer of hope and I'm always trying to figure out what I need to learn...how about you? How do you live life?

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I can remember when my babies were, well, babies and I would wish so badly that they had come with a manual so I would have a clue what to do with them. I often feel that way with my marriage even though we have been married for 17 years I am still at loss many, many days. And life, yeah, I wouldn't mind an instruction booklet for that one too. Oh wait, I've got one...check this out...

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Seize life!

Eat bread with gusto,

Drink wine with a robust heart.

Oh yes—God takes pleasure in your pleasure!

Dress festively every morning.

Don't skimp on colors and scarves.

Relish life with the spouse you love

Each and every day of your precarious life.

Each day is God's gift.

It's all you get in exchange

For the hard work of staying alive.

Make the most of each one!

Whatever turns up, grab it and do it.

And heartily!

This is your last and only chance at it,

For there's neither work to do nor thoughts to think

In the company of the dead, where you're most certainly headed...
...The race is not always to the swift,

Nor the battle to the strong,

Nor satisfaction to the wise,

Nor riches to the smart,

Nor grace to the learned.

Sooner or later bad luck hits us all.

No one can predict misfortune.

Like fish caught in a cruel net or birds in a trap,

So men and women are caught

By accidents evil and sudden.

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I like that! Pretty much answers any question that I can come up with about life. Want to know where I found that? In THE MANUAL...Ecclesiastes 9:7-12 (MSG). That's right! Friends, we walk around and wish more than anything we had instructions on this thing we call life and I don't know about you, but even when I'm studying the word I somehow fail to apply it to my life, to my daily situations, to my sin, to my happiness. I think to myself well that sure worked for them but I seem to loose the translation of how it works for me. Hmmm...Life...

98%

As I buckled my seat belt and positioned myself in the passenger seat Kristina and I began to chit chat. She cranked her car, turned the radio down (because you know it was blaring), buckled her own seat belt and put the car in reverse. We weren't really talking about anything in particular, just talking.

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As she backed up and then drove to the edge of the parking lot by the four lane highway I glanced over her shoulder to see how much traffic was coming. It wasn't too bad and as a truck whizzed past us in the lane closest to us she slowly pulled out. "You're pulling out in front of a car Kristina GET ON IT!!!" I screamed.

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She stomped the gas and slung her car into the far lane. My heart was beating ninety to nothing and I had my hands pulled up over my head. All I could think was this is gonna hurt...this is gonna hurt.

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As we approached the red light I think Kristina was sucking in air about as much as I was just trying to calm down. "Momma" she said "I thought that car was in the far lane. Just the way the truck lights were and that car's lights were I really thought that car was in the far lane!" I think she was trying to convince herself as much as she was trying to convince me!

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"You HAVE to be careful...especially at night. You need to wait until there is NO traffic before you pull out. I have to do that...I can't tell which lane cars are in at night..." I began to instruct. "Momma, I do that...98% of the time I do that!" I snickered to myself and I said "Precious, you need to do that 100% of the time...if not...there is a 2% chance that you can be in an accident and hurt yourself or better yet someone else!" We gasped for air, reached for our hearts and wiped the sweat off our brows all the way home.

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I find it interesting that we go through our lives doing what we want 98% of the time yet only looking to Christ 2% of the time. But, you let something happen, a speed bump appear in our paths and buddy we are on our knees crying out to Jesus!

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"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." Hebrews 13:8 (NLT). Jesus Christ isn't the same only 98% of the time! He is the same every day, all day, yesterday, today, the next day, next week, next month, next year, next century...He is Jesus! He isn't the one changing...we are! What would our lives be like if we lived for Christ 100% of the time? How different would things be if we followed His instructions 100% of the time? How pure would our hearts be if it was filled with the love of Jesus 100% of the time? What if...?

How Deep Is Your Love?

Written by my wonderful co-worker Kelli Ryan...I loved this!!

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You know, the musical group of brothers called the Bee Gee's used to sing a song with those very words .... how deep is your love? ... and now we'll be singing that song in our heads for the rest of the day, won't we? ... but, seriously, have you ever thought about that ... how deep is your love? ... for those whom we love? Well, no matter how deep our love is, there is another love that goes very, very deep. Take a look ....

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"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of His glory, He may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through His Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, (... here it comes ....) what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." - Ephesians 3:14-19

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There it is! The LOVE of God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who not only loves us deeply but also far and wide and way up high above! WOW! Now that is .... deep!

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Acrostic:

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L - LAVISHLY ... He loves us!

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1 John 3:1 - "See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him."
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O - OVERWHELMINGLY ... He loves us!

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1 John 4:19 - "We love, because He first loved us."

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John 3:16-17 - "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through Him."
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V - VASTLY ... He loves us!

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Psalm 103:8 - "The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love."
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E - EVERLASTING ... He loves us!

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Psalm 118:1 - "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever."
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LOVE! God's LOVE! But there is more because Romans 8:38-39 tells us this .....

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"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

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How deep is His love? Deep, sweet people, very DEEP! Amen and Amen!!

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Blessings!
Kelli
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(For other Bible studies and resources, please visit www.doctrinalstudies.com - and me, there at "Kelli's Korner".)

Planting Seeds

How many of you have a Facebook? Well, I used to think I would never have one of those social website things but a few months back Gabe begged to have a Facebook and I finally gave in. But, the stipulation was that I had to know his password at all times and that I would have a Facebook as well so that I could monitor what was being said, who his friends were, etc.

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After I set my Facebook page up I found this cute little game called Farmville and let me tell you I am addicted to this thing. Every day I'm harvesting crops, planting crops, milking cows, collecting eggs from the chickens, picking apples off my trees...I just have the best time. A co-worker of mine has one as well and we giggle and laugh all day long talking about our farms as if they were the real deal.

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We carefully put our telephone poles in just the right place so that the "wires" can reach our "houses." We make sure our chickens can't get trampled on by the horses. Naturally, there has to be a pile of wood near the trees! Oh we have the best time and I'm sure when people hear us talk they think we each live on a farm! We plant corn and potatoes, pumpking and sunflowers, watermelon and squash and don't even get me started on the blueberries and tomatoes! There are seeds everywhere!!

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Seeds...huh...you know Jesus used seeds to explain the kingdom of God? Out of every analogy out there...he picked seeds. "How can we picture God's kingdom? What kind of story can we use? It's like a pine nut. When it lands on the ground it is quite small as seeds go, yet once it is planted it grows into a huge pine tree with thick branches. Eagles nest in it." Mark 4:30-31 (MSG). You just never know when the seeds you plant will be harvested! Some of us never realize that we are out there planting seeds every single day but trust me when that seed has grown into a pine tree with thick branches and an eagle is making it's nest...that seed is noticed!

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It is easy to walk around with your head hung a little low thinking "What do I even matter in this world?" But, my friend, you do matter! You matter to the person on your left and the person on right even though they may not realize it. You matter to your Father and He has placed you exactly where you are at this exact moment for a purpose, for a reason, for His plan! He gave you a pocket full of seeds...all you gotta do is plant 'em!

Heros

Today is a day of honor for those who have given their time, sacrificed their families and laid down their lives for our freedom. I salute all men and women in the military. I beam with a little bit of pride today because my Daddy is one of those men!

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He joined the Navy straight out of high school and literally "set sail" on a journey that ultimately led him to Milton, Florida where he met my Mother and the rest is history. My Daddy proudly served in Vietnam and although he returned home to anything but a welcome he returned home with his pride!

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I've learned alot from my Daddy over these last 35 years. I have learned to never give up, when you can't figure out how to put one foot in front of the other just stand still. I have learned that life is not always going to be easy, but whoever said it was going to be! I have learned that in the midst of a fight always know whose got your back. And I have learned how to be humble, how to push through a crisis and not break down, but I think most importantly I have learned how to be human from my Daddy! He is the first to say "I'm sorry," the first to wake up and usually the last to go to sleep. He is always there with an answer and if he doesn't immediately know it...he finds it! My Daddy is the greatest Daddy to ever live. Not only because...well...he's MY Daddy but because he is just him...my Daddy is my HERO! =)

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As I was driving to work today on this wonderful Veteran's Day I was thinking about my Daddy. I was thinking about the sacrifices he made to his country, to his family, to himself! I was thinking about how selfless he was and still is. I was thinking about how brave he was and most definitely still is and then I began to think about Jesus. I thought about how he is our ultimate hero. Jesus sacrificed himself with the most selfless act imaginable. He died for our sins! He not only died...HE WAS CRUCIFIED! Jesus paid it all! "...Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said." 1 Corinthians 15:3 (NLT).

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So, as you see a veteran today, shake their hand, stop for a moment and talk to them, tell them thank you but please, please, please don't forget to thank Jesus...the ultimate veteran...the one who died to ensure your salvation. Please don't take his act of selflessness for granted. If you haven't accepted him...do so today! What better day than VETERAN'S DAY! And, to all our veterans...I salute you! Thank you does not even begin to cover my gratitude towards your actions! My children are able to walk through their life free all because of you!

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And...Daddy...I love you! =)

Prayer

As they lined their blocks up spelling the word "pray" on the floor we began to talk about things that make noise. Shane and I teach the 3 and 4 year old boys Sunday School class and most Sundays they teach me more than we teach them. One boy piped up and said "tractors make noise" and then he made the sound of a tractor. Another one yelled "airplanes are loud!" and then he took his little hand and zoomed it through the air while he made the sound of an airplane scraping across the sky. Another boy tapped my arm saying "Miss Lori...Miss Lori...cars make noise" and he vroomed vroomed his hand through the air.

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Once everyone arrived we sat down at the table and started working on a collage of pictures of things that make noise and with every snip of the scissors all the boys were discussing noises. I said "point your finger" and they all followed just pointing away and I said "I can't hear you!" Then I instructed "snap your fingers" and all of a sudden there was noise! The boys got a real kick out of this and then we tried all sorts of things. They waved their hands and guess what? I couldn't hear them waving but as soon as they put their hands together and started clapping there was NOISE!

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As our lesson went on and we laughed and giggled we learned that although we "think" about prayer God doesn't "hear" us until we actually pray! It is so easy to get caught up in daily life and think to ourselves I need to pray but at the end of the day; do we actually do it? I can sit here and point, wave my hands, tap my foot, swish back and forth but until I actually get on my knees, look up and pray...He won't hear me!

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I'm good at "talking" about things that have me concerned and worried. I stress about this, that and the other. I spend alot of time saying "I'll pray for you" and I even think to myself "I need to stop and pray" but then I get sidetracked and I realize that all I really do is spend alot of time yapping about it but never doing it.

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"Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life." Philippians 4:6-7 (MSG).

Where's Your Garbage?

So, get this...I'm driving into work this morning muttering over some things that have just been eating at me lately and I pulled up to a stop sign and there was a constant flow of traffic coming from my left side. I sit there and huff and puff because I have never seen this much traffic at this one particular stop sign before. I wait...and wait...and wait...and wait...

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And then I see it! There is a garbage can strapped to a light pole. I sit there staring at this garbage can and begin to snicker at the fact that someone has secured their trash can to a light pole! Why? It's a garbage can! Who would want to make sure their garbage can stayed secure! How much trouble have they had with this garbage can?

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And, then, the Lord just gently pressed upon my heart...that's what you do! You hold onto the garbage in your life never letting it go. You strap it down and make sure that you have it day after day and you put it out in front by the street so that everyone driving by can see it. Don't ya think it's time to let the garbage go?

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Oh wow! I immediately began to pray and ask for forgiveness for being a garbage woman! Oh gracious how I have just walked around weighted down by my own garbage and although I throw it in the trash and give it to God I tend to strap that can down and hold on to it for some strange reason! What about you? Where's your garbage today?

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"But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, They run and don't get tired, they walk and don't lag behind." Isaiah 40:31 (MSG).

Assigned Seats

November 3, 2009...wow...the years have just flown by. My precious Gabe turned 13 last month and in a few days Kristina will be 17. Man, it just seems unreal to me how quickly the years have came and went. What tickles me even more is how after all these years they still sit in the exact same place in my vehicle. Without fail Kristina will get in behind the passenger and Gabe will enter behind the driver.

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When Kristina was a baby I put her behind the passenger seat so that while I was driving I could tend to her if necessary and then when Gabe came along I put him behind the driver so that as we went about our travels I could hand Kristina whatever Gabe needed and she could help me. Hence, their assigned seats. I laugh when a kink gets thrown in their routine because I have literally seen these kids unbuckle their seat belts, slide around each other and get in the "correct" position.

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If you walk into our church service this Sunday you will see my family sitting to the left of the center aisle, six rows (approximately) from the front. We pretty much take up the whole pew and as I scan the faces around me you can quickly tell if someone is missing. No one ever told us to sit there, we weren't assigned to that pew, that is just where we ended up and have yet to move.

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Whether we realize it or not we all have "assigned" seats in our life. Sometimes I think those seats were simply handed to us and we accept them but then sometimes we choose that seat and never move. Why? Maybe it's comfort or habit. Maybe because we belong in that particular seat. Maybe it's the fear of not being able to find another seat. Who knows...

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I'm just glad that Jesus has never changed his mind about His seat! Right there beside my Father! "The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven." Hebrews 1:3 (NLT). After He cleansed us from our sins he took his seat! Right where He is supposed to be. He sits there with pride and honor and dignity for He is the one who chose us. Makes me mad at myself when I realize that as I walk through life sitting in the same seats over and over that many days I don't chose Him!

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Next time my behind hits the seat I pray that my mind is focused on where the Son sits. I pray that I remember that I am nothing and He is everything. I pray that I think about how He sacrificed himself for me. How he bled and died for every sin that I committed and will commit. I pray that I will respect His seat more that I respect my own. I pray that instead of worrying about my seat...I will worry about someone else's seat. I pray that I have the courage to make sure my friends, neighbors, fellow shoppers, co-workers, teachers, enemies...all have their seat secured. I pray that I get over myself...