by | Life Application
A friend of mine has always said, “Acceptance is not approval.” After about the hundredth time I found myself wishing she would never say the words again. Now I find myself quoting her. I’ve been thinking a lot about that lately. Right now it’s ringing true in my life.
Let me tell you a few things about me…
- First of all, I’m not organized. I’m done pretending like I am. My papers stack up and my area looks cluttered. But I know what’s there. My inbox is a mess.
- The clothes in my closet are not neatly categorized according to color or season. Yes, my winter clothes are combined with my t-shirts.
- I mainly live out of my clothes basket. I try to do laundry by Wednesday, and if there is anything clean left in the hamper I hang it up. Yes, it’s wrinkled because it went straight from the dryer to the basket. But I’m a Downy addict, so at least the wrinkled shirt smells wonderful. Oh, and I don’t own an iron. However, I do know how to use one in case of an emergency.
- I love my Smurfs t-shirt, my shorts, and my flip-flops. I don’t always look classy, but I look comfortable.
- My car is a storage unit. You will find books in my backseat, a package of rice cakes for the go, a portable fan (I never leave home without it), my guitar, and a few shirts in the floor board. It’s in desperate need of a car wash, and maybe someday I will make it there.
- I’m horrible at making beds. I wake up in the mornings and search for my sheet that I kicked off who knows where because I’m always tossing and turning. I throw it over the bed and top it with my comforter. There is no tucking and folding.
- My brain is more scattered lately than it used to be. I forget things. You can tell me three times and I’ll probably still forget. I don’t do it to bother you, it just happens. But if you write it down three times, remind me another few, then ask me to do it after I missed whatever it was I was supposed to do, I will get it done.
- I cry at movies of all kinds. I cry when you cry. I cry at Hallmark commercials. I quit pretending to be tough, and I’m okay with that.
- I hate injustice and my need to protect others flares up intensely when I see it. I tend to forget sometimes that God is plenty capable of handling things Himself. But He is usually quick to remind me.
I’m not perfect. Parts of me are a mess. Some people in my life accept me for the messy, unorganized, t-shirt wearing, emotional girl that I am. Some people in my life are still trying to change me. I’m learning to be content with both. I’m thrilled to be accepted for me. Sometimes it hurts when I’m not. But if I try to change the person that is trying to change me, then I’m no different.
I write this to encourage you that although you may not approve of something in the life of someone you love, that doesn’t mean you can’t accept them. God created us each uniquely.
I have come to terms with the fact that posting this will not likely get me a date soon. (Note: If you are an organized guy who loves to cook, clean, do laundry, and go to the grocery store, we can plan the wedding today.) However, it makes me feel better to let the world know that next time you see me you will know I got dressed out of the hamper, threw my wrinkled sheets on the bed, and my eyeliner is running because I’m a woman and I got emotional during the song playing in the car while I was eating a rice cake because I forgot I was meeting you and missed lunch.
by | Faith Lived Out, Life Application
I was recently sitting in the dentist’s office waiting for a friend. After my mini power nap and waking up wondering if the stares indicated I had been snoring, I decided I should entertain myself with some reading. Good Housekeeping was staring at me so I gave in.
The featured article was written about two celebrities who manage to keep their friendship strong despite having their own families and the demands of Hollywood. It was a great article. But then…
Both were asked what role faith played in their family lives. There were some interesting answers to say the least.
Actress #1: “I’m half Jewish and half Christian.”
Actress #2: “I was brought up within the Christian tradition, [but] I had a fairly secular upbringing. The guiding moral principles, the ethical principles, much of the philosophy, if properly applied, is very good. And I love Christmas. I know all the carols and all the songs. In spite of our secularism, we observe the Christmas tradition. And we talk about the [Christmas] story. It’s a very great story, and I grew up with it. It’s very interesting and full of metaphor.”
The definition of metaphor is a figure of speech in which one thing is spoken of as if it were another.
There is no metaphor regarding the birth of Jesus Christ. Is there such a thing as being half Christian? We can be half German and half Irish, but can we be half Christian? I think not. It’s all or none in Christianity, as it should be.
We are to love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind and with all our strength. Mark 12:30.
Are you all in?
by | Life Application
Where can you hear a ventriloquist sing a tune from Les Miserables while holding a baby in his arms? Where can you see a singing Spanish chihuahua? Where can you hear the story of the Arc of the Covenant along with an inspiring illusion that gives God the glory? Only at the Hamner Barber Theatre!
If you are looking for laughter, then Jim Barber is your guy. If you’re looking for some amazing illusions, such as the world-famous Vertigo, then Dave Hamner and his wife Denise are the ones you want to see.
I was both amused and impressed with the variety of entertainment from this high dynamic duo.
Not only was the show great, but the Veteran’s tribute was by far the best, most respectful tribute I have seen. You could tell there was a lot of thought put into this tribute. It wasn’t just a song with an American flag waving in the background, asking our Veteran’s to stand up so we could honor them. It was a true, heartfelt, well planned message from two amazing entertainers! 
If you’re coming to Branson, whether you’re bringing your children or you’re just a couple getting away for the weekend, come and check out the show. You won’t walk away disappointed!
by | Faith Lived Out, Life Application
Today’s History Lesson…
In 1987 the town of Midland Texas was changed forever when 18 month old Jessica McClure fell down an abandoned well. 58 hours later she was rescued. Do you remember that day? Were you in a panic with the millions of others watching the live coverage on CNN?
Three years after that my mother went through the terror of the unknown, I imagine, just as Jessica’s parents did. I disappeared. She received a phone call from the police department stating that I had been taken from my father’s house. They told her to sit calmly and wait by the phone while they looked for me. If you were told your child had disappeared would your first reaction be to sit calmly by the phone? Mine neither. Obviously I was found.
But this reminds me of another story.
What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost. – Matthew 18:12-14
God sits and waits for us every time we wander away – every time we fall into an abandoned well. We are his sheep. He doesn’t want to watch any of us go astray. You don’t have to wait 58 hours to be rescued from him, stuck in the terror and fear that controls your life. You don’t have to wait another second. He’s waiting now to pull you out of the pit.
Are you ready?
by | Faith Lived Out, Life Application
What do you do when questions fill your mind and you don’t know where to catalog them? There are no answers for them from any human being, and God isn’t quite ready to answer them.
God just moved a mountain in my life five minutes ago.
For almost two years I’ve had an image in my mind of my father’s death. For almost two years I’ve had unanswered questions as to how he died. For almost two years I’ve had one big thought cataloged: was my father killed?
I’ve went back and forth through the fight of bitterness, considering confronting the woman I thought was responsible. But every time I saw her face I was filled with fear and rage. The last time we spoke was not a good memory. It was one of the most defeating days of my life. I remember staring at her at my dad’s funeral wondering what she was thinking. My judgment assumed she was happy he was dead. Afterall, I had heard many times how much she despised him.
This last year I have spent a lot of time grieving many things in my life. But the how or what of my dad’s death has never went away. This morning God spoke to me loud and clear. It was time to do something crazy!
The last time I saw her was at my grandpa’s funeral a year ago and I swore I would never see her face again. I swore I would never speak to her again. I wasn’t sure that I could ever forgive her. But this morning I picked up the phone and called her. I was just as surprised to hear her voice as she was mine. Of course I silently begged for her not to answer so I could just get the credit from God for making the call.
She answered. This was the moment I was going to get an apology. She was going to say she was sorry for everything. We made small talk. I waited. I told her about some changes in my life that had taken place over the last year. I waited. Silence filled the conversation. Where did I go next?
“I just want to apologize for things over the last year and ask your forgiveness for any hurt I’ve caused you.” What?! That came from my mouth. That came from me! God never ceases to amaze me. This wasn’t about what I was going to get; it was about what I was going to give. I gave up my expectations and my entitlement.
We may never speak again. My answers may still go unanswered. But God is still at work.
The lyrics of this song keep going over and over in my head, He’s not finished with me yet.
by | Life Application
Today’s History Lesson…
On October 6th, 1893 Nabisco Foods invented Cream of Wheat. Why in the world would I blog about the history of the creation of Cream of Wheat? Follow with me and you will understand.
Here’s what I think of when those words come to mind:
- A smile on my mother’s face when she would get off the midnight shift, walk through the door, and meet me for breakfast. Our kitchen smelled of cinnamon toast and a warm bowl of Cream of Wheat.
- Comfort. It was so soothing on cold mornings to see the steam rolling off the top of the bowl, knowing any moment our bodies would warm up.
- Healing. It could cure a sore throat or a broken heart as a little girl who had just had a bad day.
I don’t eat it as much these days, but there’s never a moment that after seeing it in my mama’s pantry that a smile doesn’t come to my face. I’m 27 years old, but the smile that comes across my face when she puts the lumpy Cream of Wheat and warm cinnamon toast in front of me, I’m five again. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
Savor these moments folks. Find comfort in the little things. They won’t always be there.
A friend of mine has always said, “Acceptance is not approval.” After about the hundredth time I found myself wishing she would never say the words again. Now I find myself quoting her. I’ve been thinking a lot about that lately. Right now it’s ringing true in my life.
