Here it is January 23 and I took the Christmas tree down today (finally to some of you!). Unusually, I was ready and ironically, my family wasn't. But alas, two strands of lights had gone dark and that is not ok to look at every day.
This is not the latest I've ever taken it down. I believe February 5, 2011 is the current record. No matter when I do it, though, I tend to get sad, hating to see the season end and settle into the bleak mid-winter.
So, in an effort to head off the meltdown at the pass today, I decided to experiment with listening to Christmas music (for the last time) as I put everything away. It actually worked! I'm still happy. No sadness. Naturally, I played MercyMe's Christmas Sessions first and twice, but it was a different one that helped seal the deal.
Matthew West. He clearly gets me. Here are two songs that make me smile and laugh and feel hopeful.
For before Christmas, we have this song:
click here if you want to listen while you read
"Come On, Christmas"
It's almost Christmas time, everybody
And I can't wait
I left the lights up all year ‘round
I just couldn’t bear the thought of takin’ ‘em down
I’ve been singing “Jingle Bell Rock” since July
All the neighbors look at me like
I’m crazy but I
I, got a feeling that I just can’t shake
You see it’s lasted three hundred sixty four days
And now I’m too excited, I can’t sleep a wink and
I stare at the snow outside my window just thinkin’
Come on, Christmas
I don’t know why you’re taking so long, Christmas
Well, I’ve been waiting all year for you to get here
And I can’t take another second, can’t you hear me beggin’
Hurry up, Santa Claus
Here’s my number just in case your reindeer get lost
I sure wouldn’t mind, if you’re early this time
So, come on, come on, come on, Christmas
Come on, Christmas
Well, there’s just something about this time of year
You can feel the excitement in the air
Everyone’s hangin’ with family and friends
And it’s making you feel like a kid once again
Steal a kiss under the mistletoe
While old Bing sings, “Let It Snow, Let It Snow”
The only thing that’s left on my Christmas list is
I’m hopin’ to catch a peek of old’ St. Nick
Come on, Christmas
I don’t know why you’re taking so long, Christmas
Well, I’ve been waiting all year for you to get here
And I can’t take another second, can’t you hear me beggin’
Hurry up, Santa Claus
Here’s my number just in case your reindeer get lost
I sure wouldn’t mind, if you’re early this time
So, come on, come on, come on, Christmas
Hearts are racing all around the world
Smiling faces on the boys and girls
Waiting just to hear those sleigh bells ring
Singing, come on, Christmas do your thing
Come on, Christmas
I don’t know why you’re taking so long, Christmas
Well, I’ve been waiting all year for you to get here
And I can’t take another second, can’t you hear me beggin’
Hurry up, Santa Claus
Here’s my number just in case old Rudolph gets lost
I sure wouldn’t mind, if you’re early this time
So, come on, come on, come on, Christmas
(Hearts are racing all around the world)
Hearts are racing
(Come on, Christmas)
Come on, Christmas
I can't wait any longer
And the feel is getting stronger
So what you're waiting for?
Come on, come on, come on, Christmas
And then for a day like today we have this song:
click here if you want to listen while you read
"Day After Christmas"
Here comes the letdown Christmas is over
Here comes the meltdown, there goes the cheer
But before we have a breakdown, let us remember
The light of the world is still here
Happy day after Christmas
And merry rest of the year
Even when Christmas is over
The light of the world is still here
The light of the world
Come January I’m ready for summer
The Super Bowl’s over and I’ll settle for spring
Sometimes we all need a change in the weather
But it won’t change the reason we sing
Happy day after Christmas
And merry rest of the year
Even when Christmas is over
The light of the world is still here
The light of the world
The light of the world
The light of the world
So take down the stockings, take back the sweaters
Take down the lights and the star and the tree
But don’t let this world take your joy after Christmas
Take joy to the world and just sing
Happy day after Christmas
And merry rest of the year
Even when Christmas is over
The light of the world is still here
[x2]
The light of the world [x7]
Yup, everything's going to be just fine until November - it's only 10 months away! The Light of the World is still here....and He loves me. And He loves you!
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Monday, January 21, 2013
If You Need Some Mighty In Your Life
Ever been in a rut regarding your prayer life? Me too. Don't get me wrong - I pray everyday, but I can fall into the habit of praying for the
same people and the same stuff sometimes using the same words. I refer to God
as Father, God, Jesus and Lord. I can't remember the last time I
called Him one of the more creative names found in the Bible'
As I read through the first few books of the Old Testament and New in my reading plan, I've noticed something I hadn't before. Like how many times the Lord, our God is referred to as The Mighty One.
See for yourself:
Genesis 49:24 But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob.
Joshua 22:22 The Mighty One, God, the Lord! The Mighty One, God, the Lord! He knows!
Psalm 42:4 These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng.
As I read through the first few books of the Old Testament and New in my reading plan, I've noticed something I hadn't before. Like how many times the Lord, our God is referred to as The Mighty One.
See for yourself:
Genesis 49:24 But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob.
Joshua 22:22 The Mighty One, God, the Lord! The Mighty One, God, the Lord! He knows!
Psalm 42:4 These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng.
Psalm 50:1 The Mighty One, God, the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to where it sets.
Isaiah 60:16 ...Then you will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
Matthew 26:64 “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
And that's not all of them. Just a few to get us thinking today. God is The Mighty One. The only Mighty One. The pages of the Bible are filled with accounts of just how Mighty He can be. We are talking power here.
I could use some Mighty in my life. I have seen God do mighty things over the years but I'm committed to not let those only be stories from my past as far as it depends on me. I wonder how my perspective would change on how I view life, how I pray and what I expect from my prayers if I began to both call Him and refer to God as The Mighty One.
This is my new experiment. Maybe I'll see God do some new things (Is. 43:19 "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.")
I suspect my faith will grow. That is what I want. I want to believe God for bigger things. I don't want to pray weak, predictable prayers. I want to pray the kind that get His attention because they show that I trust Him and I believe that He can do more and better than I can imagine. The kind of prayers that leave me joyful. I want His glory to be displayed in my life in a Mighty way. Not because of anything I do, but because of what He chooses to do that concerns me.
When all is said and done, perhaps like Mary, this will become my song....
Luke 1:49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
A Little Love for the Weary
Been thinking about life today and I've concluded life is hard. My heart breaks for many of my friends who are going through something difficult and painful or who have been waiting too long for God to show up. Some days it feels like the pain will never end and you wonder if you're going to make it. Is that how you feel? If it is....here comes the good news:
Consider the Israelites when they were in slavery (don't count out how much pain must come with that word) to the government of Egypt....
"The Israelites groaned under their slavery and cried out. Their cries for relief from their hard labor ascended to God:
Beautiful. My sweet friends, pray!
God listens to your cries
God remembers what He's promised you
God sees what's going on with you
God understands
But if it's so bad you can't pray - rest in this:
"Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good." Romans 8:26-28
That's it! I'm memorizing these verses. With passages like these, we need never question the presence or the love of this God who is the author of every word of Scripture, the Mighty God. Maybe you read it too fast. Maybe you skimmed it. Go back and read all that love! It's for you. Even if you're "not feeling it".
Never let go of that truth. He loves you. He's for you. He's in you. He's got you.
PS...I love you too.
PSS - finding these awesome nuggets in books like Exodus happens when we attempt to read through the whole Bible. Just sayin' ;)
Consider the Israelites when they were in slavery (don't count out how much pain must come with that word) to the government of Egypt....
"The Israelites groaned under their slavery and cried out. Their cries for relief from their hard labor ascended to God:
- God listened to their groanings.
- God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob.
- God saw what was going on with Israel.
- God understood." Ex. 2:23-25
Beautiful. My sweet friends, pray!
God listens to your cries
God remembers what He's promised you
God sees what's going on with you
God understands
But if it's so bad you can't pray - rest in this:
"Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good." Romans 8:26-28
That's it! I'm memorizing these verses. With passages like these, we need never question the presence or the love of this God who is the author of every word of Scripture, the Mighty God. Maybe you read it too fast. Maybe you skimmed it. Go back and read all that love! It's for you. Even if you're "not feeling it".
Never let go of that truth. He loves you. He's for you. He's in you. He's got you.
PS...I love you too.
PSS - finding these awesome nuggets in books like Exodus happens when we attempt to read through the whole Bible. Just sayin' ;)
Saturday, January 12, 2013
He's 50 Today! A Birthday Tribute
The years have a way of piling up on you when you barely notice. We're celebrating a birthday in our house today and for the first time in two years, the whole family is here to join in. Yay for 5!
As you likely know, Christmas is my favorite time of year, but birthdays run a close second. It's a time to remember, a time to evaluate and a time to adjust if necessary but also a time to open presents and eat cake!!
Let me tell you about our birthday boy.
I didn't come on the scene until Scott Burtis was 25 years old (and I was much younger). I was working at Sacred Melody Christian Bookstore in Syracuse, NY when my boss came to me one day and said all excited, "I've got just the guy for you. He's coming back to work today!" Scott had previously worked there and was clearly the boss's favorite. I replied, "Did you forget I'm dating Jim in Books?" He said, "I know, but nevermind that, Scott is the one for you."
How did he know? It would be more than a year until our first date, but things happened quickly from there. We spent one beautiful Labor Day at the Great New York State Fair and I was smitten. He moved out of town the next day to take a youth pastor position and I wondered how this would play out. By the end of the week he was standing in front of my desk ready for another date and by our fourth date I was meeting his Mom and Dad. Eight months later we were married. He tells it that we HAD to get married......because of our phone bills. Hey kids, back then you had to pay for long distance calls.
I think I would have married him that first night if he asked. A man builds a reputation over the long haul. Scott's preceded him. I promise I'm not exaggerating when I say there wasn't one person who knew Scott that didn't respect and like him. I noticed it right away. A godly young man. There weren't too many of them around and even at 21 I was worried there wouldn't be one for me. Still, I found this is a blessing and a curse for a girl who couldn't measure up to that. A girl who wasn't raised to love Jesus and had made too many mistakes at too young an age. Then one day Jesus came to my life and I gladly received Him, but some bad patterns are hard to break and when you're looking for love sometimes you settle for less, much less than what God has in mind.
So to stumble across one who is "pure as the driven snow" is thrilling, but in the depths of my heart I knew I wouldn't cut it for him, wasn't good enough. You can imagine my surprise when Scott decided to love me knowing all the shame and regret and ask me to spend my life by his side. It's a glorious thing when a man resembles Christ in showing unconditional love, grace and forgiveness to another. I'm that grateful recipient.
We've been together nearly 23 years now and today Scott is 50. Like every married couple who've lasted this length of time, we've been through the good, the bad and some ugly. Together. Our children are nearly grown and we have two in heaven yet to meet. We've been in ministry most of our time together and it's been a good life.
Sometimes we don't take the time to appreciate what we love about someone until they are gone. That will not do. So, since today is his birthday, I've written ten things I love about this man. Things you need to know. Well, maybe you don't need to know, but I want you to know!
1. He's fun and likes to have fun. His BIG laugh is one of my favorite things to hear, especially when it follows something I've said or done. He even laughs at the ridiculous, like movies such as The Princess Bride and Nacho Libre. I don't get that, but I do like his laugh. He can laugh at himself too, which is necessary when you live with a family who relentlessly makes fun of you.
2. He's a hard worker and provider. There have been times in our marriage when he's held down two jobs so that I can be home with our kids. He was even a paper boy in his 30's!
3. He has a lot of friends and loves people. We can't go anywhere in the world where he doesn't know someone. (not exaggerating - we've been to Kenya and Brazil and even on our honeymoon he ran into friends!) He's not one to say "no" to a gathering. He likes when we have company over. Often. And sometimes he helps clean up after they've left too.
4. He always puts others first. The word that comes to mind is defer. In marriage, he always defers to me whether it's a restaurant choice or vacation spot or what CD we listen to in the car. He never insists on his own way. Since our first baby appeared almost 21 years ago (oh my word, could that be true?) and with the addition of the other two, he's put another person ahead of himself. As I consider this, I wonder why more of that hasn't rubbed off on me. So much yet to learn.
5. He is a very good father. I'd like to tell you he was that Dad who got up in the middle of the night and changed the baby and then brought him or her to me for feeding, but that didn't exactly happen. And he didn't change a whole lot of diapers either. Oddly enough, he never once heard them cry after dark. Weird. (Just keeping it real here, folks, wouldn't want you to think he's totally perfect.) Still, he held and rocked and read and played with each one all the time. He's been there for our kids. He was the teacher's helper in preschool. He's gone to all band and choir concerts. Nearly every basketball, soccer, volleyball game and track meet he's been there too.
He has modeled for our children a life yielded to God. This last year and a half our kids got a front row seat watching their Dad follow God. They were there to hear him say an emotional goodbye to a comfortable, successful nearly twenty year ministry and yes to a new adventure God was calling us to. During a farewell reception, they witnessed appreciation and admiration that only a genuine man of God could receive. And they saw so much love coming their father's way. While it was exciting and unknown and a little scary, Scott led our family with both confidence and humility. Because of his leadership, the kids easily adapted even though it meant some hard change for them too.
Less than a year later, they watched their Dad be accused and misrepresented. Jesus says this will happen to us when we follow Him. With grace, Scott showed them how to honestly own and apologize for your own stuff, but draw the line when expected to assume what's not yours. He also demonstrated how to protect and care for his wife. He did it quietly, with humility. They learned that an upright life is a target for the enemy and even when the arrows fly and hit you, you don't give up on God. It can even mean that you're on the right track to God's will.
During this time they also watched our home and mailbox and God's inbox fill with support and concern and love from friends both old and new. Some life lessons are best learned by living them up close and personal.
6. He is a faithful husband. Just last night I caught him checking me out as I walked away from him in a parking lot. After all these years, he is still a one-woman man. I am that lucky woman. Could he be a little more romantic? Yes. Could he speak my gift receiving love language more often than my birthday and Christmas? Oh my yes. Could he try a little harder to read my mind and meet my every need before I speak it? Probably not but a girl can dream! Still he loves me. He loves all of me. He loves only me. And more importantly, he loves God more than he loves me. That's the stuff that really matters.
7. Did I mention patient? The man is never in a hurry. Blood pressure medicine is not in his future. He can wait and wait and wait which is great when it comes to waiting on God, but quite frankly drives me a little nuts when it comes my way! And I know deep down he likes making me wait. Sometimes he says that's why God brought him into my life - to teach me patience. Yeah, that goes over just like you think it would.
8. He's not a grudge holder and never gives a guilt trip. No matter how many times I've let him down or hurt him (intentionally or not), he always forgives. And somehow he seems to forget. How does he do that?
9. He's compassionate. He's held me through the loss of two babies and the loss of some friends over the years. He never requires one to "get over it" too soon.
10. He not only reads the Bible, but he lives it. Because of that, he's rock solid. He is rarely moved. Again, a blessing and a curse. A blessing when he leads our family with a trust in God that is unshaken. A curse when he is not moved by and ignores my plea to buy me an iPhone because he says I won't take care of it based on how many times I've dropped my free phone on hard cement. Stubborn a little. Kind of torks me if you must know.
Yet when I look over this list and recall these qualities, it is my sincere prayer that my sons will be the kind of man, husband and father that Scott is and that Ally will marry someone just like her Daddy - but who's really romantic and gives gifts for no reason.
A sweet friend said to me the other day when referring to the character and raising up of our kids, "You and that husband of yours have done well, my friend" and I stopped short and thanked God for that. I give God all the glory for whatever good anyone sees in our lives, not just because that's what we're supposed to do, but because I know me and I know us along with our imperfections, failures and shortcomings (ask our kids -they know them all too!). All good things come from God alone.
Now lest you think this man and marriage I've described is flawless, think again. Today's my husband's birthday - his 50th birthday - YIKES - so of course I'm going to stick to the good stuff! But even though I've painted the picture of the positive as seen by me, you know it's not all been rosy. No one is exempt from pain and hard times and a pesky sin nature.
I'm still working on that list of gifts that I started almost two years ago. I've named well over 8,000 things that I'm thankful to God for. Things that speak God's love to me. And my experience through this has become that when we insist on finding the gifts, all of life looks blessed to us. Even the excruciating hurt, the loss, the worst of life that we can experience. Start your own list, you'll see...I promise! Guess who's at the top of mine.....yup, our birthday boy!
To Scott: Happy Birthday my favorite! Now that you've reached half a century and might be considered an O.G. (Old Guy) to some and I continually ask myself, "How can I be married to a 50 year old man?", I know you're the best you've ever been and I love you. And even though it's your birthday and you should be getting the gifts - I feel like I'm the one receiving today!
Better go make your favorite breakfast - sausage gravy, biscuits and scrambled eggs! I'm not making any promises about a white cake with white frosting a.k.a "why bother" cake.
Happy Happy Birthday
As you likely know, Christmas is my favorite time of year, but birthdays run a close second. It's a time to remember, a time to evaluate and a time to adjust if necessary but also a time to open presents and eat cake!!
Let me tell you about our birthday boy.
I didn't come on the scene until Scott Burtis was 25 years old (and I was much younger). I was working at Sacred Melody Christian Bookstore in Syracuse, NY when my boss came to me one day and said all excited, "I've got just the guy for you. He's coming back to work today!" Scott had previously worked there and was clearly the boss's favorite. I replied, "Did you forget I'm dating Jim in Books?" He said, "I know, but nevermind that, Scott is the one for you."
How did he know? It would be more than a year until our first date, but things happened quickly from there. We spent one beautiful Labor Day at the Great New York State Fair and I was smitten. He moved out of town the next day to take a youth pastor position and I wondered how this would play out. By the end of the week he was standing in front of my desk ready for another date and by our fourth date I was meeting his Mom and Dad. Eight months later we were married. He tells it that we HAD to get married......because of our phone bills. Hey kids, back then you had to pay for long distance calls.
I think I would have married him that first night if he asked. A man builds a reputation over the long haul. Scott's preceded him. I promise I'm not exaggerating when I say there wasn't one person who knew Scott that didn't respect and like him. I noticed it right away. A godly young man. There weren't too many of them around and even at 21 I was worried there wouldn't be one for me. Still, I found this is a blessing and a curse for a girl who couldn't measure up to that. A girl who wasn't raised to love Jesus and had made too many mistakes at too young an age. Then one day Jesus came to my life and I gladly received Him, but some bad patterns are hard to break and when you're looking for love sometimes you settle for less, much less than what God has in mind.
So to stumble across one who is "pure as the driven snow" is thrilling, but in the depths of my heart I knew I wouldn't cut it for him, wasn't good enough. You can imagine my surprise when Scott decided to love me knowing all the shame and regret and ask me to spend my life by his side. It's a glorious thing when a man resembles Christ in showing unconditional love, grace and forgiveness to another. I'm that grateful recipient.
We've been together nearly 23 years now and today Scott is 50. Like every married couple who've lasted this length of time, we've been through the good, the bad and some ugly. Together. Our children are nearly grown and we have two in heaven yet to meet. We've been in ministry most of our time together and it's been a good life.
Sometimes we don't take the time to appreciate what we love about someone until they are gone. That will not do. So, since today is his birthday, I've written ten things I love about this man. Things you need to know. Well, maybe you don't need to know, but I want you to know!
1. He's fun and likes to have fun. His BIG laugh is one of my favorite things to hear, especially when it follows something I've said or done. He even laughs at the ridiculous, like movies such as The Princess Bride and Nacho Libre. I don't get that, but I do like his laugh. He can laugh at himself too, which is necessary when you live with a family who relentlessly makes fun of you.
2. He's a hard worker and provider. There have been times in our marriage when he's held down two jobs so that I can be home with our kids. He was even a paper boy in his 30's!
3. He has a lot of friends and loves people. We can't go anywhere in the world where he doesn't know someone. (not exaggerating - we've been to Kenya and Brazil and even on our honeymoon he ran into friends!) He's not one to say "no" to a gathering. He likes when we have company over. Often. And sometimes he helps clean up after they've left too.
4. He always puts others first. The word that comes to mind is defer. In marriage, he always defers to me whether it's a restaurant choice or vacation spot or what CD we listen to in the car. He never insists on his own way. Since our first baby appeared almost 21 years ago (oh my word, could that be true?) and with the addition of the other two, he's put another person ahead of himself. As I consider this, I wonder why more of that hasn't rubbed off on me. So much yet to learn.
5. He is a very good father. I'd like to tell you he was that Dad who got up in the middle of the night and changed the baby and then brought him or her to me for feeding, but that didn't exactly happen. And he didn't change a whole lot of diapers either. Oddly enough, he never once heard them cry after dark. Weird. (Just keeping it real here, folks, wouldn't want you to think he's totally perfect.) Still, he held and rocked and read and played with each one all the time. He's been there for our kids. He was the teacher's helper in preschool. He's gone to all band and choir concerts. Nearly every basketball, soccer, volleyball game and track meet he's been there too.
He has modeled for our children a life yielded to God. This last year and a half our kids got a front row seat watching their Dad follow God. They were there to hear him say an emotional goodbye to a comfortable, successful nearly twenty year ministry and yes to a new adventure God was calling us to. During a farewell reception, they witnessed appreciation and admiration that only a genuine man of God could receive. And they saw so much love coming their father's way. While it was exciting and unknown and a little scary, Scott led our family with both confidence and humility. Because of his leadership, the kids easily adapted even though it meant some hard change for them too.
Less than a year later, they watched their Dad be accused and misrepresented. Jesus says this will happen to us when we follow Him. With grace, Scott showed them how to honestly own and apologize for your own stuff, but draw the line when expected to assume what's not yours. He also demonstrated how to protect and care for his wife. He did it quietly, with humility. They learned that an upright life is a target for the enemy and even when the arrows fly and hit you, you don't give up on God. It can even mean that you're on the right track to God's will.
During this time they also watched our home and mailbox and God's inbox fill with support and concern and love from friends both old and new. Some life lessons are best learned by living them up close and personal.
6. He is a faithful husband. Just last night I caught him checking me out as I walked away from him in a parking lot. After all these years, he is still a one-woman man. I am that lucky woman. Could he be a little more romantic? Yes. Could he speak my gift receiving love language more often than my birthday and Christmas? Oh my yes. Could he try a little harder to read my mind and meet my every need before I speak it? Probably not but a girl can dream! Still he loves me. He loves all of me. He loves only me. And more importantly, he loves God more than he loves me. That's the stuff that really matters.
7. Did I mention patient? The man is never in a hurry. Blood pressure medicine is not in his future. He can wait and wait and wait which is great when it comes to waiting on God, but quite frankly drives me a little nuts when it comes my way! And I know deep down he likes making me wait. Sometimes he says that's why God brought him into my life - to teach me patience. Yeah, that goes over just like you think it would.
8. He's not a grudge holder and never gives a guilt trip. No matter how many times I've let him down or hurt him (intentionally or not), he always forgives. And somehow he seems to forget. How does he do that?
9. He's compassionate. He's held me through the loss of two babies and the loss of some friends over the years. He never requires one to "get over it" too soon.
10. He not only reads the Bible, but he lives it. Because of that, he's rock solid. He is rarely moved. Again, a blessing and a curse. A blessing when he leads our family with a trust in God that is unshaken. A curse when he is not moved by and ignores my plea to buy me an iPhone because he says I won't take care of it based on how many times I've dropped my free phone on hard cement. Stubborn a little. Kind of torks me if you must know.
Yet when I look over this list and recall these qualities, it is my sincere prayer that my sons will be the kind of man, husband and father that Scott is and that Ally will marry someone just like her Daddy - but who's really romantic and gives gifts for no reason.
A sweet friend said to me the other day when referring to the character and raising up of our kids, "You and that husband of yours have done well, my friend" and I stopped short and thanked God for that. I give God all the glory for whatever good anyone sees in our lives, not just because that's what we're supposed to do, but because I know me and I know us along with our imperfections, failures and shortcomings (ask our kids -they know them all too!). All good things come from God alone.
Now lest you think this man and marriage I've described is flawless, think again. Today's my husband's birthday - his 50th birthday - YIKES - so of course I'm going to stick to the good stuff! But even though I've painted the picture of the positive as seen by me, you know it's not all been rosy. No one is exempt from pain and hard times and a pesky sin nature.
I'm still working on that list of gifts that I started almost two years ago. I've named well over 8,000 things that I'm thankful to God for. Things that speak God's love to me. And my experience through this has become that when we insist on finding the gifts, all of life looks blessed to us. Even the excruciating hurt, the loss, the worst of life that we can experience. Start your own list, you'll see...I promise! Guess who's at the top of mine.....yup, our birthday boy!
To Scott: Happy Birthday my favorite! Now that you've reached half a century and might be considered an O.G. (Old Guy) to some and I continually ask myself, "How can I be married to a 50 year old man?", I know you're the best you've ever been and I love you. And even though it's your birthday and you should be getting the gifts - I feel like I'm the one receiving today!
Better go make your favorite breakfast - sausage gravy, biscuits and scrambled eggs! I'm not making any promises about a white cake with white frosting a.k.a "why bother" cake.
 |
| this is from a few birthdays ago when he settled for a chocolate cake w/peanut butter frosting |
Happy Happy Birthday
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Choices - Living 2013 with 2014 In Mind
January 2, 2013. My two youngest kids went back to school today and Scott is off to work. I guess the holidays are officially over. Our house is still decorated to the hilt and I don't think that's going to change anytime soon. It's funny, while I still want to hold on to Christmas and celebrating and have everyone home, I don't necessarily want to hang on to the year 2012.
If you've been my friend a while or have read stuff I've written, you are expecting me to write a post about New Year's Goals. I'm not really going to do that because it puts some people off and they will immediately stop reading. Not everyone is into goal setting and sometimes the pride produced in meeting the set goals can actually be counterproductive to good character development. Still, I think we get fresh starts, clean slates that we can take advantage of. Not just once a year or at the beginning of a new season, but everyday! That said, I'll just share a little from my heart about what this New Year means to me.
Last year was arguably the most dark, difficult, disappointing, frustrating and painful of years for our family to date. We started out last January full of hope and energy and dreams. Come October and November we were limping to the end. Talk about 'we didn't see that coming'! Still, we survived. We more than survived. We live and are eager to tell of the faithfulness of God during stormy seasons. It's all about choices, you see.
One of God's gifts to us is the freedom of choice. He never forces us to do anything. We get to choose. Maybe this is what I like about January - with a new year comes new choices. I'm beginning to be convinced that all of our choices boil down to two things: health and well-being as opposed to unhealthy and lacking.
If you're like me, you've already decided your eating habits need attention. Every bite is a choice. But, I'm not talking about going out and buying all new workout clothes and exercise equipment, for the Bible tells us that "physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come." 1 Tim 4:8
No, I'm talking about the godliness part. How can we choose each day, starting today, to live in such a way that when we get to January 1, 2014 we feel victorious....not like a failure. It really is up to us.
Here's a few ideas:
Are you involved in a relationship (or two) that you know you need to be out of? It is not bringing out the best in you and you're not bringing out the best in the other person. I have been there. You have a choice regarding your depth of involvement.
Maybe you've given yourself to lesser living, blending in with the culture around you instead of conducting yourself in a manner worthy of the Gospel. Today is a new day. You choose how you're going to behave. Christlike or world-like?
What if something bad has happened to you? You've been wrongly accused or maliciously attacked. Or someone you love has been. You have the choice to get angry, defend yourself or attack your accuser. Or you can forgive and continue to live blamelessly, letting God be your Defender.
Maybe you've lost some friends and feel betrayed and misunderstood. You can choose to lash out and hurt them back or you can let them go and seek a new friendship.
What if you have experienced great loss or heartbreak? You can choose to stay isolated in your pain or you can invite God to bring healing and an opportunity to help others.
Maybe you just altogether wish you could have a do-over of last year.
You didn't meet your set goals.
You nursed a habit or an addiction you knew you needed to kick to the curb.
You judged others but demanded mercy for yourself.
You spoke harshly to those you love.
You always had to have your own way.
You put yourself first and didn't give to those in greater need.
You ignored the annoying but surrounded yourself with those just like you.
You failed others (or yourself).
Sometimes our self-punishment is the worst. We simply don't let ourselves off the hook because we "should have known better". This attitude can be the single greatest hindrance to any lasting change and can keep us in a state of defeat. Can you tell this is coming from a place too close to home?
I wrote back in the beginning of this post that 2012 was a rough year in the Burtis home. These last six months I've shared much of our journey here on the blog but there is more that simply doesn't belong here. You have those experiences too I'm sure. Much of what we experienced is nothing we would have asked for. Humanly speaking we all want our painful times to end as quickly as possible, don't we? We certainly don't wish for or eagerly welcome them. But God. There's always God. As I sift back through the emotions, I am amazed at how God was so near. How He intentionally weaved beauty and fun and joy as light in the dark days. Our thankfulness lists are busting at the seams!
He truly does bring good from the not-so-good. (Romans 8) I'm convinced that no difficulty we endure goes unnoticed to God. He will use every bit of it for our good and His glory...if we let Him. I choose to let Him. To look for ways to glorify Him in light of all I've learned and in spite of all I don't yet know.
Today is a new day. A new year. A new array of choices are set before me and before you.
I choose today to accept God's mercy and forgive myself. No more defeating self-talk.
I choose to accept His abundant blessings and not feel guilty for or unworthy of them.
I choose to start fresh and not allow last year's failures to define me.
I choose not to hold a grudge or bitterness against anyone who has hurt me intentionally or otherwise. Only God is capable of never letting me down. All the rest are just human as I am.
I choose to forgive as I have been forgiven. That pretty much covers everything.
I choose to receive everything as from God's hand. The good, the bad and the ugly, remembering that He gives and takes away.
I choose to trust God's good hand of provision for me because He knows best what I need and what I don't need.
I choose to love others and extend grace to all who are created in His image.
I choose not to judge others or require them to act as I think they should.
I choose to release others from being the meeter of my needs, to not hold to any entitlements. (Can you say 'high maintenance'?)
I choose joy and thankfulness as my primary attitudes.
This list is hardly exhaustive - I could go on all day, but you get the picture. I probably need to print it out and post in a prominent place. Why not spend a few minutes making a list (sorry, once a Type-A, always a Type-A) of your own? I find that if you put your intentions in front of you (on paper) you are more likely to remember and heed them.
If you're not a list maker, journal it. If you don't like to write, pray it. Whatever you do, stop making excuses and decide to choose wisely. Even if it's hard. Even if it hurts. Then let's meet back here in one year and discuss. :)
Remember, He makes all things new! A good verse to memorize for reinforcement: "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"
I'll be praying for you! Let's do this year well.
If you've been my friend a while or have read stuff I've written, you are expecting me to write a post about New Year's Goals. I'm not really going to do that because it puts some people off and they will immediately stop reading. Not everyone is into goal setting and sometimes the pride produced in meeting the set goals can actually be counterproductive to good character development. Still, I think we get fresh starts, clean slates that we can take advantage of. Not just once a year or at the beginning of a new season, but everyday! That said, I'll just share a little from my heart about what this New Year means to me.
Last year was arguably the most dark, difficult, disappointing, frustrating and painful of years for our family to date. We started out last January full of hope and energy and dreams. Come October and November we were limping to the end. Talk about 'we didn't see that coming'! Still, we survived. We more than survived. We live and are eager to tell of the faithfulness of God during stormy seasons. It's all about choices, you see.
One of God's gifts to us is the freedom of choice. He never forces us to do anything. We get to choose. Maybe this is what I like about January - with a new year comes new choices. I'm beginning to be convinced that all of our choices boil down to two things: health and well-being as opposed to unhealthy and lacking.
If you're like me, you've already decided your eating habits need attention. Every bite is a choice. But, I'm not talking about going out and buying all new workout clothes and exercise equipment, for the Bible tells us that "physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come." 1 Tim 4:8
No, I'm talking about the godliness part. How can we choose each day, starting today, to live in such a way that when we get to January 1, 2014 we feel victorious....not like a failure. It really is up to us.
Here's a few ideas:
Are you involved in a relationship (or two) that you know you need to be out of? It is not bringing out the best in you and you're not bringing out the best in the other person. I have been there. You have a choice regarding your depth of involvement.
Maybe you've given yourself to lesser living, blending in with the culture around you instead of conducting yourself in a manner worthy of the Gospel. Today is a new day. You choose how you're going to behave. Christlike or world-like?
What if something bad has happened to you? You've been wrongly accused or maliciously attacked. Or someone you love has been. You have the choice to get angry, defend yourself or attack your accuser. Or you can forgive and continue to live blamelessly, letting God be your Defender.
Maybe you've lost some friends and feel betrayed and misunderstood. You can choose to lash out and hurt them back or you can let them go and seek a new friendship.
What if you have experienced great loss or heartbreak? You can choose to stay isolated in your pain or you can invite God to bring healing and an opportunity to help others.
Maybe you just altogether wish you could have a do-over of last year.
You didn't meet your set goals.
You nursed a habit or an addiction you knew you needed to kick to the curb.
You judged others but demanded mercy for yourself.
You spoke harshly to those you love.
You always had to have your own way.
You put yourself first and didn't give to those in greater need.
You ignored the annoying but surrounded yourself with those just like you.
You failed others (or yourself).
Sometimes our self-punishment is the worst. We simply don't let ourselves off the hook because we "should have known better". This attitude can be the single greatest hindrance to any lasting change and can keep us in a state of defeat. Can you tell this is coming from a place too close to home?
I wrote back in the beginning of this post that 2012 was a rough year in the Burtis home. These last six months I've shared much of our journey here on the blog but there is more that simply doesn't belong here. You have those experiences too I'm sure. Much of what we experienced is nothing we would have asked for. Humanly speaking we all want our painful times to end as quickly as possible, don't we? We certainly don't wish for or eagerly welcome them. But God. There's always God. As I sift back through the emotions, I am amazed at how God was so near. How He intentionally weaved beauty and fun and joy as light in the dark days. Our thankfulness lists are busting at the seams!
He truly does bring good from the not-so-good. (Romans 8) I'm convinced that no difficulty we endure goes unnoticed to God. He will use every bit of it for our good and His glory...if we let Him. I choose to let Him. To look for ways to glorify Him in light of all I've learned and in spite of all I don't yet know.
Today is a new day. A new year. A new array of choices are set before me and before you.
I choose today to accept God's mercy and forgive myself. No more defeating self-talk.
I choose to accept His abundant blessings and not feel guilty for or unworthy of them.
I choose to start fresh and not allow last year's failures to define me.
I choose not to hold a grudge or bitterness against anyone who has hurt me intentionally or otherwise. Only God is capable of never letting me down. All the rest are just human as I am.
I choose to forgive as I have been forgiven. That pretty much covers everything.
I choose to receive everything as from God's hand. The good, the bad and the ugly, remembering that He gives and takes away.
I choose to trust God's good hand of provision for me because He knows best what I need and what I don't need.
I choose to love others and extend grace to all who are created in His image.
I choose not to judge others or require them to act as I think they should.
I choose to release others from being the meeter of my needs, to not hold to any entitlements. (Can you say 'high maintenance'?)
I choose joy and thankfulness as my primary attitudes.
This list is hardly exhaustive - I could go on all day, but you get the picture. I probably need to print it out and post in a prominent place. Why not spend a few minutes making a list (sorry, once a Type-A, always a Type-A) of your own? I find that if you put your intentions in front of you (on paper) you are more likely to remember and heed them.
If you're not a list maker, journal it. If you don't like to write, pray it. Whatever you do, stop making excuses and decide to choose wisely. Even if it's hard. Even if it hurts. Then let's meet back here in one year and discuss. :)
Remember, He makes all things new! A good verse to memorize for reinforcement: "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"
I'll be praying for you! Let's do this year well.
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