If...

"If I can enjoy a joke at the expense of another;
if I can in any way slight another in conversation,
or even in thought,
then I know nothing of Calvary love."

"Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;

Keep watch over the door of my lips."

Psalm 141:3

"If I belittle those whom I am called to serve,
talk of their weak points in constrast with what I
think of as my strong points;
if I adopt a superior attitude, forgetting
'who made thee to differ? and what hast thou that
thou hast not received?'
then I know nothing of Calvary love."


IF: written by Amy Carmichael

"This is what I do when I'm excited:"...

One of the benefits that I have as a single girl, is that I get to play, hang out with, and observe all of my friends' kids. I love watching them and seeing their little personalities. I have seen the older children convince the younger that the toy he has is not really the one he wants, and wouldn't he like to trade? And their facial expressions are huge. There is no subtle movement. When the eyebrows are up, they are WAY up. When the smile shows teeth, it shows ALL of the teeth. They will run and hug you, even give you a kiss sometimes, when all you did was walk in the door and smile at them. They do not leave you in doubt of what they are feeling.
I also help out with the Wednesday Night Live (WNL) childrens' ministry on (obviously) Wed. nights. I lead the music time, and then I teach, when they are there, the 4-6 year olds. There is one in particular who gave me the title of this post. His name is Ryan, and he is 6. He told me one night that "this" (the motion I'm about to describe) is what he does when he's excited about something. Imagine, if you will, a little boy with brown hair and big brown eyes. He takes his hands and puts them with the back of his wrists to each side of his nose. Then he wriggles his little fingers back and forth and amongst each other, while giggling, squinting his eyes, and hopping back and forth on each foot very quickly. If you've ever seen a little puppy try to contain all of its excited energy in one place, then you've seen Ryan's excited expression. Whenever the kids get split up into groups and given a challenge to complete, or they are told they can go to the treasure box and get a piece of candy, or they get cookies after dinner, or they get to go to the playground, you'll see Ryan doing his little motion. It is just too precious, and it brings a smile to my face to SEE him be happy.
This past week, we had a visitor at WNL. His name is Chris, and he turned 16 years old on Wed. Why, might you ask, would a 16 year old be attending a childrens' ministry? (The program is for 4 year olds and up through the 6th grade.) The reason is because Chris was born addicted to cocaine. He wears a hearing aid, and mentally, he is many years younger than his age. Anyway...It was his birthday, and Bro. Gary suggested we get him a cake, etc. So we did. I wish that you could have seen his face when we came out singing "Happy Birthday" with that cake. At first, he was puzzled...then he pointed to himself, as if to question the gift. When we sang his name, and he realized it was HIS cake...he bounced up and down in his chair, clapped his hands rapidly, and just squealed with joy. He looked around at all the kids singing and all the adults singing, and just grinned the biggest grin ever. He was SO excited!! His mom came up later and said that he had just asked her earlier if he would get a cake for his birthday, and she had said yes, not knowing if she could get him one. It has been a few days since that happened, and it still brings tears to my eyes. I had the priviledge of being a part of bringing a child such joy that he couldn't even contain it.
I think that as adults, we somehow lose that freedom...the freedom of trying our hardest to express joy inexpressible. We keep up that facade of "maturity" and stand or sit still. Or maybe that's not our problem. Maybe we don't get excited about anything anymore. Maybe all the joy in life has been drained away, and we don't even know that it happened. Heaven please forbid.
As I watched that precious boy clap and laugh at the knowledge of receiving such a small gift, I thought, "I bet God loves it when we do the same to Him." I mean...what is a true expression of joy without also being an expression of gratitude? I'm not saying that every time we are overflowing with joy that we should run around, screaming and shouting. And I'm not saying that we should stand sedately, thinking we lose reverance if we budge. But when was the last time that in the solitude of your bedroom, apartment, car, where-ever, you laughed and jumped around because you couldn't contain the joy inside? Chris Rice sings about it. Little kids do it impulsively. King David danced with joy, because he just couldn't be still and express that much joy. The word "overflow" means that it is SO MUCH that it can't be contained.
Unbeknownst to some of you, and sadly, known a little too well to a few others, I still jump up and down and scream and laugh when I'm really excited or happy. I can't help it. I'm still a kid in many ways. And I don't want to get into some long discussion on the appropriate posture or behavior for worship (ie. in the church). I just hope that each of us, in our daily, personal walk with the Lord, would show Him some of that uncontainable joy that is a result of knowing Him.

Do the next thing...

My brother and I were talking, oh, probably about a month or more ago, about the future and setting goals and stuff. He said that he had always supposed the main difference between the two of us was that I set goals to achieve, and he didn't. Of course, I had to set the record straight. I don't know that I've ever really set a goal in my life. I've just always done the next thing. Hard to believe for some, I guess, but it's really true. A couple of years ago, I came across this poem (from an old Saxon legend) in Elisabeth Elliot's Secure in the Everlasting Arms:

"Many a questioning, many a fear.

Many a doubt hath its quieting here.

Moment by moment, let down from heaven,

Time, opportunity, guidance are given.

Fear not tomorrows, child of the King--

Trust them with Jesus. Do the next thing!"

Anyway...we were talking about him finding a job and what kind, and for how long, etc. And I passed along that little bit of advice, as well as some other encouragement I'd been given by some friends, in that as we do the next thing, God shows us the next thing, and then the next, etc. Well...he got a job, one that he's not super excited about, but that he can do and at the end of three months, he/they will decide if he will stay or not. Well...he now knows he doesn't really want to stay, but he hasn't known in what direction to go. WELL...he told me the other night that as someone was checking out (Will is a receptionist at a vet clinic. Go figure!), he had to explain some charges on the guy's bill. To make a interesting-to-probably-only-me-story short, he found out that they both have the same degree, and that this guy (a prosecuting attorney) may have a job for him whenever he's ready. THEN that same day, he met someone he already knew but found out that she, too, is a receptionist at a vet clinic, and looking to work at a different clinic. Voila! Possible new job and possible new replacement in the same day.

While I was listening to Will get excited about the possibility of this new job, and being amazed at how it was all coming together, I, too, was in awe. I mean, could this possibly demonstrate any better "Trust them to Jesus. Do the next thing"?
So as I walk, I am reminded of this: "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." (Ps 119:105). As most everyone has heard, the lamp that you carry shows only enough light for the next step, and no more. I have just really been encouraged to see, yet again, how God WILL show you the next step, and then the next, and so on. Plus, I have also seen how the steps may not come day to day or week to week. My brother and I had that discussion close to a month or more ago. It wasn't until this week that he got, quite possibly, the next thing. Other friends have said it took years before the next thing was brought. You see, I get so impatient to see God move quickly. But He doesn't move on my timetable. (Hallelujah!) The thing to remember is that He IS moving.
I feel so elementary in my learning processes. I've had this knowledge for quite some time now, and yet I didn't really get it. I am still learning to trust God in EVERY aspect of my life. I mean, it's easy to trust God with my husband, house, and kids. These are things I DON'T have and DON'T face on a daily basis. However, I worry about all sorts of other little things that are completely stupid. How freeing and relaxing it is to KNOW that God is at work, and that He WILL show me the next thing.

By the way, I HIGHLY recommend Secure in the Everlasting Arms by Elisabeth Elliot. She is such a great author, and when I read it the first time, I thought for sure she had written it just for me. Get it. Read it.

Introducing...three

This is Spike. Aka. Spud, Sparticus, and Sparkle. But when he gets out of the yard, he doesn't really answer to anything. He's everyone's favorite.

Introducing...too

This is Maggie. Her full name is Miss Magnolia Festival of 1996. I didn't name her...I promise. She also answers to Magpie, Magdalene, Mags, and Magnolia (of course). She'll be 10 years old this month. She's getting old. It's kinda sad.

Introducing...

the dogs:


This is Jane. I adopted her my second year of vet school. She is the best dog and my running buddy.

Come to Jesus....Chris Rice

"Weak and wounded sinner, lost and left to die, well raise your head for love is passing by. Come to Jesus. Come to Jesus. Come to Jesus and live.

"Now your burdens lifted, and carried far away. Precious blood has washed away the stain. So sing to Jesus. Sing to Jesus. Sing to Jesus and live.

"Like a newborn baby, don't be afraid to crawl. And remember when you walk, sometimes we fall. So fall on Jesus. Fall on Jesus. Fall on Jesus and live.

"Sometimes the way is lonely, and steep, and filled with pain. So if your sky is dark and pours the rain. Cry to Jesus. Cry to Jesus. Cry to Jesus and live.

"Oh and when the joy spills over, and music fills the night. And when you can't contain the joy inside. Dance for Jesus. Dance for Jesus. Dance for Jesus and live.

"And with your final heartbeat, kiss the world goodbye. And go in peace, and laugh on glory's side. Fly to Jesus. Fly to Jesus. Fly to Jesus and live."

my clothes are too big...

Here lately, Romans 12:2, as well as some others, have been hanging out in my head. Much of it all goes back to what I said earlier about having to form new habits.
I read a book recently, at the recommendation of several godly women, through which I was surprised to learn how much I had "conformed to this world" in some areas of thinking. Even though I have filtered much of the movies and t.v. and music that I am surrounded by, and even though I have grown up in a Bible-believing church and been taught by a godly pastor and Sunday school teachers, I still had the hairs of pride stand up on the back of my neck as I read and felt slighted at some of what she (the author) had to say. And immediately I wondered at myself, because the author is scripturally sound, and I was having a hard time submitting to it. It just made me have to sit down and rethink alot of things that I never knew I had even formed an opinion about but that somehow I had. (Did that last sentence make sense? I don't know how to word it any better.) I agree with the author, and I highly recommend the book, but I was surprised at what I had learned about myself in the process.
It was my turn to teach the Wednesday Night Live kids last week, and my topic was sanctification. One of the visuals was that of a child wearing clothes that are too big. The idea was that as Christians, we are to "grow up" in Christ, to be sanctified: set apart, made more like Christ. It's such a great visual. I wish I had taken pictures. As I was getting ready, I also realized that as Christians, we want, and sometimes expect, the clothes to fit immediately. I remember being in Mongolia and asking the head missionary there why the Mongolian Christians still lied. His response was that it was in their culture to do it. No one had ever told them that they had to tell the truth. They needed to be taught, and re-taught, what is true and right. Then, they had to make it a habit to choose what is right. It is not in our nature to continually choose what is right.
As for expecting the clothes to fit immediately...I know I have been guilty of both expecting others' "clothes" to fit, as well as getting very discouraged with myself when my "clothes" didn't fit yet. My point is that as Christians, we are all still growing. I can't give up simply 'cause I'm not there yet. I'll never be there...in this life; on this earth. No one else will either. It is something I too easily forget. I can be pretty hard on other people, as well as myself.
So how do I continue to grow? Another section that has been a mantra for the past couple of weeks:

"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. And everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be diqualified."
1 Cor 9:24-27

I guess, since I've been running, that verse has had dual meaning for me. Getting up early and running is neither natural nor easy for me. I have to buffet my body and make it get out of that comfortable, warm, topped-with-the-best-down-comforter-ever, bed and go wear myself out. Likewise, it is not natural for me to have the mindset of Christ. It is something that I must work at and pray for more of. And then I must listen and obey when I hear Him direct. How many times, as a child, did I hear my parents say, "I need you to obey me the first time I tell you"? How many times has God said the same? How many times would I have avoided failure in so many areas if I had obeyed the first time?
It's all about forming new habits...willfully buffeting my body and mind into turning from that which separates me from my Lord, and running (consistently, mentally, emotionally) to Him. To run in such as way as to win the prize.

The book I mentioned earlier: "Created to be His Helpmeet" by Debi Pearl.

Romans 12:1-2

"I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies

of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice,

acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed

by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove

what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable

and perfect."