Why....

I am going to tell you a story.   This is a true story about a family from my church.  This family is a beautiful example of Faith in God.  The thirteen-year-old daughter in this family was admitted to the hospital almost a month ago.  She had a persistent fever and a rash, then septic shock.   All of this has lead to many complications that has her currently in a vegetated state with no answers, only questions.  This family has endured so many trials and so many emotional days, that it is hard to comprehend how they are getting out of bed in the morning.  That is except that they know Jesus, a loving and faithful God.  While I do not know them well, I still pray for them every day.  I stand amazed at the work God is doing in their lives.  The mother is one of the first people who tried to be a friend to me when we joined our church.  We attended her Sunday school class and another trying to decide where God wanted us.  While we ended up in another class, she is always showing God’s love to me whenever, we see each other.  She is a blessing.

In all of this I wonder why?  The strangest thing is that the answers to the why continue to come straight from those faithful parents.  Here are a few verses that they have used as their prayer rocks in this difficult time:

• “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:28 NLT

·         "In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and His children shall have a place of refuge" Proverbs 14:26

·         “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5 NLT

• “The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.” Psalm 9:9 NLT

·         “Lord you are more precious than silver, Lord you are more costly than Gold, Lord you are more beautiful than Diamonds, and nothing I desire compares with you. This is my song and my prayer for the day. I want to desire nothing, including my daughter getting well, except for God in my life. Here I am Lord, use me today for your glory.” –written by the mother of the family.

·         "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10.  So I have to keep my mind and heart still and rest in the comfort and peace of knowing the one true living God. –written by the father of the family

Amongst all these comforting verses, these parents are hurting, but their faith seems unshakable.  While I know, there are many quiet moments of tears and wishing things were different; this is what they choose to share with the world.  This is their testimony to God.  The answer to all the why questions are for God’s purpose and plans, and refuge is only found in Him.  When I get to heaven, I often think I want to walk the streets of gold and ask Jesus all the things I’ve always wanted to know.  For now, I am going to stand in amazement at how God is showing himself through these faithful servants.  This time and circumstance is painful beyond what I can imagine. There are no words to describe the angst this family is feeling.  I am hopeful because the Lord hears all, and knows all. Isaiah 40:31 confirms the gift of hope:

 “31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”   

I have hope in the Lord, that he is meeting their needs, not their wants but their needs, and they will “not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”  I believe that in their example, they are planting the seeds for the salvation of many. 

As the Christmas season approaches so many of us will be preparing for family meals and parties.  We will be so busy with life and celebrating the season that we will find ourselves reflecting less of God and more of the world.  After watching this family struggle and praying for them daily, I want to be better this year.  I want my CHRISTmas season and every season to be more about reflecting God.  This family has touched my heart, as a sister in Christ my heart aches for them.  I find myself asking, how do I show God in my life?  When I react to the situations of life and the CHRISTmas season, am I acting the way God truly wants me to?  Am I showing his love, mercy, and grace?  I don’t know, but I am determined to be more conscious about it.

 

Today, in conclusion, I ask that you please life this family up in your prayers.  Let us bombard the Lord with prayers of love, let’s cry out this CHRISTmas season, with prayers of love for God, love for one another, and let’s make our lives reflect God everyday.

This is my mindset, now I want to hear yours!

Thankfulness and Thanksgiving

At this time of year, everyone has his or her minds on thankfulness.  As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, it would be quite easy for me to rattle off the many good things that make me thankful.  However, it was brought to my attention at Bible study, that God says we should be thankful in all things.  One of my favorite chapters of the Bible Philippians 4 also discusses being thankful.

Philippians 4: 4-7

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

While there are a ton of things these verse are talking about and I believe I have covered some of them before, my take home today is in ALWAYS and EVERY situation we should be thankful. It occurred to me that I should come up with a few things that are not so easy to be thankful for, and take the time to thank God, for them as well.  So, here goes…..

First:

God, I am thankful for my diabetes.  I have said this before, but I am thankful that God gave me diabetes for a couple of reasons.  The first reason being no one and I, mean NO ONE else in my family could have taken the tests that diabetes has given me.  I firmly believe that this is one of those situations when the saying applies: God never gives you more than you can handle.  He selected me because despite my ups and downs, PUN INTENDED, I have this because I have HIM.  The second reason I am thankful for having diabetes is because, I believe it makes me a kinder and more understanding person.  I can have empathy for others who are struggling with their health. I know what it is like when you just do not feel good; there is nothing you can do about it, it just has to pass.

Second:

God, I am thankful for loss.  There are many times in life when I have had loss.  Maybe it was loss of a loved one, a broken friendship, or an opportunity.  Each and every time I experience a loss there is always a moment in which I see that it was a blessing in disguise.  While I might mourn for someone who has passed and long to share more moments, I think the Lord in His perfect timing has saved a life from suffering.  Or maybe the loss of an opportunity has me feeling like a failure, but I am thankful that God closes the doors that need closing.  Loss is maybe the thing to be most thankful for….

Third:

God, I am thankful for housework. If you read my blog than you know, housework is like my mortal enemy.  You realize how much I dislike making my bed and mopping floors.  It is the season of thanksgiving so I am thankful to have a bed to make.  I am thankful to have a house to clean.  I am thankful that my floors need mopping and are not made of mud.  I am thankful that of all the things I could be complaining about, this is a “good” complaint to have!  Lord, I am blessed in my life and in this moment, I am truly thankful for housework.

This thanksgiving, I pray that when you join your family to spend time and share meals, that you will take time to thank God for all the many good and bad blessings in your lives.  To each of you God bless you and have a wonderful and truly THANKFUL, thanksgiving.

This is my thankful mindset, now let me hear yours!

I want to Scream!

Lately I find myself wanting to yell, “Really people? Really?”  It seems that we are in a situation where the world has gone crazy.  I have never been one of those, “it is a sign of the end times kind of people.”  Frankly, up until a year or so ago, that kind of talk scared me.  However, these days I find that it is much easier to pray for the quick return of Jesus.  Here are a few things that just make me want to scream, “Really? What the heck is wrong with you?”

The Penn State Scandal:

UH HELLO!  It baffles my mind that there were so many people who knew of the situation and NOT one called the police.  NOT a single person told the parents.  I guess I might be able to understand why the witness did not say something or stop the perpetrator during the time that he witnessed the abuse.  However, I cannot wrap my mind around why no one called the police.  No one did anything; it frightens me to think that winning a football game is more important than that kid’s life.  Then to add insult to injury, the students of Penn state are protesting and rioting over the firing of Joe Paterno.  I happen to agree with my mother-in-law that says some parents need to have a serious conversation with their student.   Someone needs to tell them, that they are wrong, and to behave or they should be cut off!  I realize that while Joe Paterno did nothing illegal, he just did nothing.  It baffles me, for a man so respected and supposedly responsible for turning out quality athletes, this is the example he set.  Really, people where are your heads?

Occupy Wall Street.

UM…Hmm, I am actually surprised that it took this long to hear of the crime and violence.  I thought the words of one of my Sunday school friends say it best.  The absence of order is chaos, chaos breeds sin and sin is violence and crime.  The Occupy people think that if we are all equal that we can live harmoniously with each other, wrong there has to be some form of order in society.  Granted there are things not everyone likes about Government, but ultimately, having rules/laws/ordinances keep people from running a muck and hurting each other.   Please Occupiers, stop occupying and start trying for a real solution, or just move to another country please, preferably one that already supports your socialist views.   REALLY, PLEASE!

While I don’t often go off on these tangents it is just incredible the total lack of a God conscience we have in the United States.  While it seems to be all of the sudden, I realize that this has been like this for quite some time.  There are things that began to jeopardize our society long before I was born.  The one that comes to mind first is the Woman’s Rights movement.  While I am sure it intention was to do wonderful things for women, it has in turned killed the American family.  It has inadvertently made it so that staying home with your children is a bad thing.  The Woman’s movement also, I use this word loosely, accidentally, encouraged the accepting of promiscuity and the idea that a woman does not need a man.  Now, we kid ourselves that we are happy with the choices made to work instead of teach our children, or that we are happy being that single mom trying to achieve it all.  Achieving it all is a lie, something has to give, and it usually gives with the behavior and absence in the life of the children. (**Disclaimer, I know that there are single mom's who had no choice in the matter, and are doing what they can to make the best of a bad situation.  I am not talking about you.)

While all of these scenarios make me want to scream, “What is wrong with you people?”  I know the answer.  The answer is people are not seeking God.  I think the majority of people have a surface knowledge of God.  I mean to say, they know a few key scriptures or the Lord’s prayer, but they have no idea of God’s promises, and standards for living.  I think many people think that living by God’s standard is too hard to do.  Actually, God says in the Bible, “Delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalms)  I use to think this verse meant if I was good, God would give me what I wanted worldly, like a new car or something.  Recently, I heard this verse explained that God will give you the desires of your heart, meaning, He will make your desires.  He can make the tasks that seem hard, seem like the things you love to do.  Can I get a WOW? 

I guess now the question is how can we show God to those who are not seeking and make following him desirable?  The good news is all we have to do is show God’s love, share His word, and God will do the rest. 

This is my mindset, now I want to hear yours!

One more thing:  I know I have readers who aren't following me, but I would like to encourage you, to come along!  God is teaching me so many things, and we are laughing together along the way!

The Ranch

This is something I wrote a few weeks ago, but finally feel it is the right time to share it. I hope you enjoy it!

This week, I have felt like going to the ranch.  You are probably wondering what does that mean?  Well, my family has a cattle ranch.  The property has been ours for over one hundred years.  We have always had Santa Gertrudis cattle, the cattle of the famous south Texas King Ranch.  I grew up going to the ranch with my dad and brother.  My mom and sister went with us occasionally, but for the most part this was something that I shared with the men of my life, grandpa too.

We spent many summer days working out there.  Well, that is what we called it, but most of it was play.  I learned to drive a tractor and then a truck out on that property.  I learned how to shoot a gun, and go jack rabbit hunting.  I learned that when Juan, our ranch hand,  agreed with my dad, that I just NEEDED to go lift the lid on THAT barrel, it meant the bottom of the barrel was filled with live rattlesnakes.  (Juan use to catch them and sell them for their venom.)  I also learned how to haul hay, back when we used square bales.  I was never great at lifting them, but I gave it my best.  I also know what cow feed tastes like, what being kicked by a calf feels like, and what being covered in dust and cow crap is like.  

My favorite ranch story includes my dad and Juan again.  We went out to check on a heifer that had been sick, and to give her a quick shot.  Earlier that week, we had another animal that was bit by a snake and died in the same pasture.  That animal was now a feast for the buzzards.  Buzzards are really nasty birds up close.  As we left the pasture there were a few buzzards parked in a tree.   As we drove by, at the last minute one of the birds decided to fly away.  Buzzards are big, and slow, that is when the SPLAT happened.  Now initially I thought that we had hit and killed the bird with the truck, because there were guts that had flown in through the open windows.  However, we quickly realized, as my dad’s arm and shirt were covered not with bird guts, but bird poop.  As much as I was ok with a little dirt, there are some things that make a girl draw the line.  Buzzard poop is one of those things, it was nasty!  As I am having my teenage girl freak out, yucky moment, my dad looks at me and says, “Mirm….Mirm (my nickname) did you know that buzzard’s poop maggots. That is what they eat!”  This made him and Juan laugh pretty hard while I grossed out a little more.  Needless to say, I actually sprayed my dad with Lysol and we drove home windows down, because the smell was so bad.  He got the first shower that night.  After that Juan used to laugh and tease me saying, “Mirandita, Cuidado con los pajaros!” (Little Miranda, watch out for the birds.)

What I really mean when I say I want to go to the ranch is that I am a little home sick.  The constant hustle and bustle of life make things loud and sometimes out of focus.  There is no better place to talk to God than the ranch.    The ranch is the place I know as one of God’s great creations.  I know that ranch land in South Texas may not be as beautiful as say, the mountains of Colorado, or the forests of Alaska, but it is still an amazing creation.  The ranch is a symbol for a place to go where you hear only the buzz of the bugs, the wind in the grass, and the melodies of the cows mooing in the pasture.  It is a place where you can sit on a tractor for hours and talk to God about your life.  It is a place where it is possible that the stillness and quiet can offer the opportunity to hear the voice of God.

All of this struck me during Bible study this morning, as we studied the life of King David, and his anointing.  King David had many wonderful characteristics the Bible calls him, “a man after God’s own heart.”  The discussion we had this morning was about King David’s commitment to prayer, to waiting on God, and to listening for God’s answers.  I thought where is my “ranch?”  Then the speaker pointed something amazing out.  Many times as David was praying and listening for God he was in the middle of a war, or running from some one trying to attack him.  Now, I can relate to that!  I think it is great to have a quiet place to get away, but what am I doing when there is no quiet time?  What does my prayer life look like when I am swallowed up by life?  My "AHA" moment, there is no perfect quiet time.  If King David and God can have a prayer conversation in the midst of the war, why can’t I have one with the washing machine and dishwasher running?  The best take away from today’s Bible study, “God does not want perfect women, he wants women who are seeking him with their whole heart.”  I think sometimes I get caught in a legalistic thinking of these things, when the bottom line is relationship. 

 

This week, I am going to try to bring “the ranch” into my everyday, but instead of the hum of bugs and moos of cows, I will embrace the sounds of the dishwasher, washing machine, shower, or worse the water running in the sink preparing to mop, and make it all time to talk to the Lord.

Loving Old

I am still thinking about the Sermon from Sunday morning.  While I know there were great truths about Jesus being the Son of God, I am stuck thinking about the love.  My pastor talked about how as the world grows further away from God, love will dry up.  He mentioned that while we live in the word, it is easy to be jaded, cautious and untrusting.  He said that love will get harder the older we get because experience will teach us to be weary of being hurt or disappointed.

WOW, this totally changes my plans for old age!  I was already prepared to be that loud mouth old lady who says whatever she wants whenever she wants.  I want to “call them like I see them,” but it occurred to me that, this approach may not be the most loving.  My husband and I constantly remind each other that GOD calls us to love one another.  We think God may have also called us to ride in separate cars to church on Sunday, because there is less arguing that way!  Better yet, if every Sunday can be like this passed Sunday, when I was quiet before church, there was a remarkable difference in our love on the way to church! LOL.  For those of you who know me well, know that me being quiet for long is almost an impossibility.  After all, I love to hear myself talk, and I love to read myself blog too!  LOL

The incredible impact of what Pastor David preached about on Sunday is sitting in my heart and relating to all the wild things going on in our country.  I think that the Occupy Wall street people might proclaim that they are seeking peace and love, but I ask are they really?  Love is one of those words that is loaded far deeper than people really invest in it these days.  If we take our love and compare it to God’s standards, then it may be that we never truly love.  There is a whole chapter devoted to love in the New Testament.  In actuality, the whole Bible is about love, but in 1 Corinthians, there is a great definition for love.  

Our world today is so caught up in political correctness, but that means nothing if you do not have love.  Think about it, why would we need political correctness if we were all treating each other with love.  It is almost laughable that we have to legislate equality.  I saw a report earlier on a group that made their bake sale prices reflect affirmative action.  After watching the report, I thought what was meant to do good really only made the divide between race greater.  After all, if we are going to give a discount to one group shouldn’t it be to all groups?  What if you went to Macy’s and the prices were structured to reflect that the group you belong to absolutely never got a sale, I think it would hack you off after awhile.  God help you if you complained, you would be vilified.  Then in turn it is likely that resentment would form toward the sale group.

Now, let’s take this back to love.  Is there anyone who doesn’t love love?  Is there anyone who doesn’t want to share love, or feel love?  Love can give you wings, it can give you strength, and love can give you life.  I mean that literally, if you know Jesus Christ.  When the Bible says, “…That the greatest of these is love,” this is more profound than we allow it to be.  This is one of those “Churchy” verses, every one says it, everyone knows it, but how many of us live it every day?

Everyone has someone around that is hard to love.  Usually they are part of your family.  Just writing this, I can bring to mind a few that I find difficult to love.  There are two categories for me:  someone who has hurt me in some way, and then the type who drives me crazy with their crazy beliefs or lack of belief. (Let’s face it, I can almost not carry on a conversation with someone who is what I will politely call a raging liberal democrat.)  The thing about it is God calls me to love them anyway.  

How do you love a raging liberal democrat?  Or even more importantly how do you love that person who hurt you?  I think for me, I just have to tell myself over and over again, that God calls me to love.  Love means everyone, all the time, and then I have to hit my knees and pray really hard until I can love.

I guess I will change my old age plans and be the loud mouth old lady who is full of love and laughter.  I think I will redefine old from grumpy old to old and loving.  Although it sounds like a cliché, couldn’t we all use a little more love in our lives?

That is my mindset now tell me yours!

No Pinterest

I have received over the past two weeks invitations to the website: Pinterest.  Many of my friends have discussed how addicting it is, and how fun it is.  Today, I tried the website for the first time, and I believe it is the cause of a minor identity crisis.  This is when I suddenly realized, I am no ordinary woman.

You see the concept is simple.  Create a bulletin board.  Select various themes and then “pin” things to them that you want to try.  The boards can be about anything examples, cooking, arts and crafts, and sewing ideas.  Pintrest gives you a few default board titles, to help get you started.  The board that started this minor identity crisis was called “Things I love.”

Immediately I was screaming on the inside uh…ok….hmmmm…. what do I love?  Wait, oh my gosh, I don’t love anything!  Social Crisis!  I was acutely aware, that no one was going to care or want to “follow” a board on my love for chips and queso.  I confess, I missed the day in school when they taught girly! 

Confession 1:

I have never owned a hot glue gun.  I have seen it used once or twice by my mother-in-law, but I have never really done anything with hot glue. I have no “craft closet” in my house.  When I go to Hobby Lobby it is to buy something that is already made, or to fill a list for work or my daughter’s school.  I have never looked at ribbon and said I can make this into a beautiful bow.  Nor have I ever been on the scrapbook aisle and thought how fun it would be to cut and paste. 

Confession 2:

Sewing is not my thing.  What makes this statement so incredibly funny is that I work at an embroidery company!  However, I am not allowed to touch the machines.  I know just enough to make me dangerous should I ever get behind a regular sewing machine.  The only thing I have actually sewn is our Christmas stockings.  They are quite possibly are the saddest looking little stockings, but they are special.  My mother-in-law spent a whole afternoon showing me how to use the little sewing machine that I have never visited since.

Confession 3:

My cooking is simple, and my menu the same.  I cook the same things over and over.  I try new things, but nothing has ever made the long term cut.  I bake, but again it is chocolate chip cookies, or cake from a box.  You will not find me slaving in the kitchen over some exotic dish.  All good things can be bought pre-made! 

All of this is to say, that I have NO PINTEREST!  This website has given me a complex.  I actually spent time trying to think of hobby things I really like to do.  This is what I came up with:

I like to eat chips and queso.

I like to listen music.

I like blogging/writing.

I like funny.

I don’t know if these things can be “pinned” but there all I got and I am sticking with them.

For now, I end my blog with this conclusion, while I have no passion for any particular "womanly" hobby, I do love my family and my friends.  That love and their company must keep me content, and that is better than any silly hobby!

Dang toilet paper is expensive!

Lately life seems like it has me saying things like this.  It is as if all the sudden I have turned into one of my parents, walking up hill in a snowstorm to school because it made for a great lesson!  Literally, I was in the grocery store, and I had to buy toilet paper, and my usual brand, Scott tissue, price had increased almost $2.00.  I screamed on the inside, “What the heck!”  After all, this is paper that I will literally be flushing away after one use, and it costs more than my bath soap.  At least I get multiple uses from my bath soap, but don’t even get me started on how expensive soap is these days!

I guess I am in somewhat of a cantankerous mood because my house is in disarray.  Yes, it would be easy to laugh this off and say, what has changed?  I have never been an excellent housekeeper.  I will settle, yes settle, for being an ok housekeeper.  Over Labor Day, we had a pipe in our home break, and thus started a trickle down effect of things we are now doing to fix our house.  While there is still a hole in the wall and some missing carpet, the toys are off the floor for now.  Shoes on the other hand, have a way of creeping around.  While they have a proper home in a closet or shoe basket, they some how end up all over the place.

I tell you all of this to say that this chaos has wreaked havoc in my life.  I admit that I feel a little out of control and, inadequately prepared for almost everything.  This only confirms my current conclusions of Proverbs 31.  (I don’t know if you have read it, but it is a synopsis of what a Godly wife/woman should be.)  Frankly, I think the woman described here, was either an over achiever, and or taking speed.  I look at the list of noble character traits and find myself feeling like these are impossible to accomplish, and even more impossible with a happy heart.  I think, if I had lived back in those times, a trip to the well would have been interesting.  In my current state of mind, going to the well with a kid strapped in a papoose and water jug on my head would have only resulted in some major complaining.  The well would have been the modern day coffee shop or nail place.  It would be filled with women sharing the things that women share, or gossiping.  I can just hear it, “Did you see Miranda, there were dirty dishes in her hut, and even more shame, her bed unmade!”  While I admit that I have some real work to do in my interpretation and opinion of Proverbs 31, I know God has a reason for it.  At some point, I will find joy in mopping my floors and making my bed.  

It always strikes me as funny the way God works in life.  I am in a bible study about the Life of David.  It is called Anointed, Transformed, and Redeemed it is written by three amazing Christian women: Kay Arthur, Beth Moore, and Priscilla Shirer.  This week’s lesson was about going through disappointments.  Beth Moore gave many examples of situations when you expect something good, and then you get something bad.  I admit that with all this chaos, I felt lucky as I read the lesson.  I feel lucky, because lets face it in the middle of the chaos, I still have a roof over my head, food in my fridge, and a job.  God is choosing each “stressful” situation to teach me something, and prepare me for His plans for me.  While, I admit, that accepting God’s plan as oppose to my own is a hard pill to swallow, but it is ALWAYS for the best.  My house is suddenly like a metaphor, what God chooses to fix first is not necessarily where I would start!

Beth Moore wrote something that was so profound to me.  She wrote this:

 “If we only understood that any part of us crucified in doing His will becomes a hotbed of resurrection power.  Where we die to self, the Spirit of Christ is raised in us.”

While, I have heard and read verses that discuss this very subject, I don’t think they ever really sunk in.  This time the big bad word OBEDIENCE came to mind.  If I submit in obedience to God/ His will, then I am capable, prepared, and able to do anything.  WOW!  What an awesome thought!  If I am obedient, then my heart will find joy in the things that myself and the world are telling me is no fun.  Obedience is a scary word, I am not sure that anything in my life has been done obediently.  I think that God is telling me that he is going to work on this with me.  If I am being honest, the thought of working on obedience scares me!  Obedience is foreign to me!  I will have to trust God and see where this takes me.  I will let you know after I mop my floors and make my bed just how I am feeling!

This is my mindset; feel free to share yours with me!