Spiritual Giants

I started a new Bible study this passed week.  It is called Faithful, Abundant, and True.  It is part of the Deeper Still serious lead by Kay Arthur, Beth Moore, and Priscilla Shirer.  The first two weeks are about Faithfulness, followed by two weeks of Abundance, and then two weeks of True.  I began my "digging deeper still" into the Faithfulness section.  I also read Chapter 4 of Deuteronomy for my Sunday school class.  This all lead to a reoccurring theme for my week.  This is what I heard:

Deuteronomy Chapter 4 told me and repeated several times through out the chapter. 

• DO NOT forget the Covenant that God made with you.  
• Obey God and all will go well with you.

Hebrews Chapter 2:1
             "For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it."

In my head, I am thinking ok, God has repeated these things many times, it must be REALLY important.  How am I doing on these fronts?  I think I am good, until we get to the OBEY part of just about anything.  Obediance is one of many things that is not my strong suit.  I don't want to be like the rest of the sheep.  Why can't I be purple instead of white?  I prefer things my way.  The thing about my way, when it is demanded, it is seldom ever right.  My intentions are usually honorable, but then there is always a better alternative.  A good example is when my husband THINKS his alternative is right.  I then dig in my heals and say, "Oh yeah!"  The result always ends up the same, a little give and take, and the matter gets resolved.  It is the initial, "Oh yeah," that always gets me in trouble!

As far as faithfulness, I have always considered myself to be faithful.  However, recently I have seen faithfulness that is beyond my level of comprehension.  I have previously mentioned the White family in my blog.  This week, their 13 year daughter Krysta passed away and is now in heaven walking with Jesus.  They have continued to be a wonderful example of their faithfulness in the midst of their loss.  They had a celebration for Krysta, where by request, no one wore black.  The family sat up front, tears in their eyes and heartbroken, but at the same time peaceful.  I know that there are many hard days ahead of them, but I believe their obediance and faithfullness will continue to be a blessing. 

I thought that this type of faithfulness could only be found in a spiritual giant, like Abraham, Paul, or John.  However, this week, I recognized that there are spiritual giants living among us.  I know another family who lost a child, and they continue to have health issues within their family, yet to see them you would never know.  They have smiles on their faces, and love in their hearts. I have two friends raising special needs children and yet again, smiles and love all around.  Faith like this is only found in those who are seeking the word of God, and trusting in His promises.  It makes me reflect on my own worries, prayer requests, and complaints.  Are my requests silly or insignificant?  As a matter of fact while discussing this with one of the friends mentioned above she said, "God wants to hear all our requests big and small."   I took that with me and I thought what a beautiful heart, modeled after God's word.  God is indeed Mighty and fully capable to handle all requests!

I think I am always looking for something big to happen, like a burning bush or a vivid dream.  The truth is God's movements aren't always big.  They can be a tug at your heart, a gut feeling to move, but they also can be the example you set when you are just living everyday life.  You could be someone's spiritual giant, because God is using you for that specific situation.  My take away from my verses and the examples shown to me this week, is this: Remember God's promises, Obey His word, and live it out faithfully because you never know when you are going to be used by God.

This is my mindset, now let me hear yours!

On a side note, I am still on birthday count down.  It is now almost a week away.   I am excited!!!!!

Flawed but Forgiven

As I approach my birthday, I love that at this stage in life I am flawed but forgiven.

I am the first to point out my flaws.  I will start with a memory.  In college, my roommate once said to me, "Miranda I think God put me in your life to thaw your cold cold heart!"  I still find this comical today, while others may cringe and say,"Ouch."  I always just considered myself as being matter of fact or not taking things too personal.  It is a flaw that continues to haunt me.  There are times that my words and actions leave me thinking," What is the big deal?"  While time and time again I am shown that my words and actions are in fact inconsiderate when they should be more personal.  Unfortunately, this flaw is chronic, just when I think I have beat it, it rears its ugly head.  However, sometimes not taking things to personally comes in handy, when you live across the street from your in-laws!  :)

I have food issues.  I can't help it.  I swear that chocolate calls my name.  We actually are past first base, chocolate can call me anything, honey, baby, sweet-cakes, and lets face it, I will answer.  I will not only answer on the first ring, but I will whisper sweet nothings into the delicious bites of a Reeses peanut butter cup or homemade chocolate chip cookie.  Chocolate has been known to pay me a bootie call, at 9:00 at night, I just have to have a bite, and then it stays on my bootie for the next six months!  I will say a close second is my love of Goldfish crackers.  I can eat the whole bag, which is why I buy the big box gallon size! 

While I feel pretty comfortable in my skin, it is still a goofy skin.  I think most times I feel like a kid trapped in this life that I can't believe is flying by in front of my eyes.  I wonder what kind of example I am setting for my daughter.  I open my mouth sometimes and am like, opps, did I just say that out loud?  Then my four year old repeats me and tells grandma," That is freakin ridiculous," while it is funny, it is really not so funny because what four year old should say that? Y'know "freakin" is not really that attractive when anyone says it.  I look at my little girl, and see some of my expressions and think," Oh dear, she is going to be a goof ball like me."  Then I pray and ask God to please just give her a filter, because her daddy doesn't have one and Lord help us if we have two of them talking that way! (Yelling) BIBLE.... BIBLE!  This is our code word in Sunday school when my husband has crossed the line and needs to just stop talking!  Truly she has no chance with us as parents, she is bound to be opinionated and not afraid to talk about it.

In all my flaws and insecurities, I am forgiven.  I love that I can accept that God forgives me no matter what my flaws maybe.  He forgives me because he chooses, not because I deserve it.  I love the grace in forgiveness, and the wholeness found in the unconditional love of my heavenly Father, who loves me sin marred, stained and flawed!

This is my mindset now let me hear yours!

The best time of my life so far....

My birthday is rapidly approaching.  I am am hitting what I am considering a "BIG ONE."  I will be turning 35, and while it is still  almost three weeks away, I am getting anxious for it.  It seems like it means more to me this year.  I am not only turning 35 but I will have had diabetes 25 years.  For some strange reason I find this to be some weird honor!  It is like on the inside, I am yelling TAKE THAT, diabetes.  So I begin now with the preface that it is going to be my birthday and I am going to talk about it and celebrate it for approximately 9 days.  To define the days a little further, that is pre-birthday weekend, birthday (Wednesday Feb. 1st), and post-birthday weekend!  Yes, I am an attention hound!

As I said, I have had diabetes almost 25 years.  I am going to celebrate!  Yep, while it is a bit unorthodox, I plan on having cake!  I have blogged a few times about having diabetes and having struggles with it.  It is not always easy, sometimes it is downright frustrating, but I am going to BE THANKFUL for it.  I shall thank it with cake and then several units of insulin!  It will be a sweet celebration to the unsweetened diabetes life.

As for turning 35, I am of the frame of mind today, that this may be the best part of my life, so far.  I loved my twenties, and I had some good times, but there is something great about right now.  The mid-thirties may be the best time for a woman.  I am passed the age where friendships change every couple of weeks.  I have learned a thing or two about the people I want to surround me, and don't worry about rumors and gossip.  Although, I am sure there is gossip.  After all, some one must have noticed that I sent my kid to school with her pants on backwards today!  Yes, true story.  My 4 year old dressed herself, and this morning, I did not notice that her back pockets were up front when I zipped up her jacket this morning.  It was after school, after lunch, when grandma said, "Baby girl, do you have your pants on backwards?"  I laughed and also felt like a terrible mom.  Even with mishaps like this, I still feel pretty good in my skin.  Maybe, it is because unlike my teens and twenties, I realize I am not invincible and that I am not always right.

Here are a couple of reasons why I believe this may be the best part of life so far. 

• God.  It goes without saying that since I re-focused my life on God, things have been good.  That is not to say without trial, but I am comforted through out each stage.  Good or bad there is a underlying sense of peace and comfort when I am where I should be, and prayer is my confidant.  It took until my thirties to truly understand and truly listen to the word of God, and it's revelations have been life changing. 

• My husband.  He is my best friend, biggest cheerleader, and source of all my frustration!  After almost ten years of marriage you would think, I would not trip over his boots EVERY day, but EVERY night, I am like,"OUCH, Why do you put your boots there?"  To which he responds,"They have been there every night since we got married!"  The sweet sound of those frustrations fills my heart knowing that if I can trip over his boots EVERY night for 10 years, I can continue to for about 50 more.  Because, let's face it, moving the boots now would take all the fun out of the game!

• My daughter.  There is no greater joy.

• My family: The sacrifices made for me, the advice they share with me, and their unconditional love.

• A shout out to the dicey chicks I play Bunco with!  My husband pointed out that I have an amazing group of friends.  He commented on the laughter and genuine joy he could hear when he came home before our Bunco game was over.  He also said, that the girls should give me great material for a hilarious blog.  I am just not sure that everyone will laugh as much as we did and the random yelling of words like," Shampoo," and " Boobs."  I look forward to Bunco night because, the women I share this time with are God-seeking, talented, funny, and real.  Some of them I know better than others, but I believe God put them each in my life for a purpose.  I don't know what it is, but I know whatever it is, God has blessed me!

 While it is early to be celebrating my birthday, I feel like I have a lot to celebrate.  Turning 35 seems like a big deal, and in true Miranda fashion I am going to DRAMA it up, play it out, and ATTENTION hog it until it just can't be anymore!

This is my mindset, now let me hear yours!

New Year Resolutions, a year in review, and other nonsense

Here it is 2012.

Let me start with, I do not believe in New Years Resolutions.  I think it is ridiculous to say that I am going to start a diet that I have no intentions of keeping.  A New Year Resolution in my mind is like the first disappointment of the new year.  Why oh why would I want to start my year with a new year resolution/ disappointment?  I don't and will not!   I will say that I am more likely to set a goal.  My goal generally has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH WEIGHT LOSS.  This is not to say that I am not in need of shedding a pound or ten, but frankly, I am not really ready to commit to that, so why try to fool myself.

The past two years, I have simply said, that I want to be in service to God some where that I have not previously served.  My first attempt at meeting this goal found me as an assistant teacher in the Kindergarten vacation Bible school class.  On my second day, a kid broke his arm!  That was a clear sign to me that Kinder vacation Bible school, NOT my calling.  The second year that I made this my goal, I did not attempt VBS.  Instead, I opted to participate in a Feed My Starving Children event.  It was awesome.  However, that was not much service, seeing how I showed up and did like two hours worth of work, bought a t shirt and went home.  My previous thought for service for 2011 was that I should mentor a young person.  Unfortunately, I allowed myself to be talked out of it.  I had gone so far as to make an appointment with the director of the program that mentors young girls just released from prison.  I canceled the appointment.  I thought to myself, " I won't have the time."  However, if I spent more considerate prayer time, God might have made time for HIS WILL.  I regret is not praying more about it, so that I was clear on HIS will and not my own.

While this year, I want to, again, be in service some where I have not served before.  I have no idea what that will be.  I love the idea of leading a ladies Bible study.  Of course, I can already think of great reasons not too.  The first reason that stops me is my own insecurity that I don't have enough Bible knowledge.  I also wonder where I would find time, and who would want to do a study with me.  When I say find time, it is not that I do not have time, it is more about the priorities for time in my life.  I have a four year old, and while setting a good example is important, I struggle with the extent of "extra curricular" things I should commit to outside of the home.  I want her and my husband to have me when they need me.  To use Proverbs 31, the chapter of the Bible that sends cringes of inadequacy down my spine, I need to be a good and noble wife for my husband and child.  The verses of seasons comes to mind, there is a season for everything, but what season am I in?  I am sure if I spend some time in prayer, my answers will come, be that in a clear resounding way, or in the silence that tends to accompany the very difficult waiting on God.  Either way, the scriptures say," For I know the plans I have for you....." I guess I will just wait and see what God has for me in 2012.

I am certain of the things that I would not like to repeat in 2012.  This list is an easy one to start.  We will start with the most recent.  I hope that we will not repeat my 4 year old telling her Sunday school teacher that she wants a BB gun to shoot cats for Christmas.  Thanks to her daddy for telling her she REALLY needed a BB gun from Santa.  (Obviously, he loves that movie, A Christmas Story.)  I do not want to repeat the pipe that broke in our home, because we are still fixing various related things. I do not want to repeat the ticket I got on the way to church, however, this requires slowing down.  If I am honest, I may repeat this one!  I don't want to repeat another bad Aggie football season.  When you lead the whole game and loose in the fourth quarter, well, it just plain hurts!  Most importantly, I DO NOT want to repeat an Obama Presidency! :)


Happy New Years Friends!  May the God of peace fill your hearts and may His love fill your homes!

This is my mindset, now tell me yours!

Christmas Wishes

I love Christmas.

Christmas is simultaneously a time of joy and sometimes sad nostalgia.  I can't help but think about Christmases past.  Often times those memories include people who have passed away, and I can't help but have a small heart ache for their loss.  However, Christmas present is such a joyous time.  My four year old daughter keeps saying, "Mommy, this is going to be the most wonderful Christmas ever!"  Her enthusiasm and genuine excitement and wonder, are so heartwarming that I know that Christmas present is by far the happiest of all Christmases.

Christmas past

I grew up in deep South Texas.  That is to say that it was never really cold.  We had a faux fireplace in our house, and no snow for sleighs or reindeer.  I have both a brother and a sister, who are, and I say this proudly, both older than me. ( Insert evil-smiley smirk here!)  One Christmas, I have no idea how old we were, but I am guessing around 4, 7, and 8.  On Christmas Eve the three of us all slept together in one room. We were NOT going to bed.  We were going to wait for Santa and his reindeer. We talked, laughed, and planned on how we were going to catch Santa leaving our gifts.  My mother had come in several times to tell us to go to bed, because Santa could not come unless we were sleeping.  On her last attempt, the most AMAZING thing happened, we heard Santa land on our roof.  There was a definite sound of running, and a very realistic sound of a sleigh.  To hear my mom tell the story, three children had never been to sleep faster than that night.  That was the night that my dad, took branches, and ran up and down our roof pretending to be Santa!  Of all my Christmases, I think this is the one I remember the most.  I don't remember the gifts but  I remember Santa landing on our roof.  Thanks Mom and Dad, for making it fun!

Christmas Present

I find that I sometimes am sad over missing the Grandparents who have passed and the family too far to visit, wishing that I could share Christmas with everyone I love from all ages of my life.  The reality is that Christmas present is for making new traditions and celebrating Christmas the way we want to celebrate for our daughter.  Even though I am called an adult, most of the time I don't feel like one.  It is foreign to me, to be creating new traditions for MY family to start and celebrate.  I keep thinking how much Santa is too much Santa?  How do we properly emphasize Jesus, but still have fun with Santa?  Other simple decisions like do we have turkey, prime rib, or ham seem to have me in a quandary. 

That is when the gentle nudge of the Holy Spirit puts things into perspective for me.  Jesus was born in a manger!  Mary and Joseph had no room at the inn, and probably no fancy meal.  They had something so much better, than stockings of candy, gifts, and big meals.  They had real joy and heavenly love.  They had the newborn baby, Jesus, the Savior of the world.  They weren't focused on earthly stresses like their hotel, or their meal, they were focused on LOVE.  With this in mind, I am thinking that we may just change the way we do things.  I want stress-free and love filled!  I think that this year, while we will still have a meal, and gifts, we are going to take it easy.  We are going to Church, then home to relax.  This year there will be no major table setting, no fancy crystal, no unnecessary stress, just family and love.  Who cares what the table looks like, or if I am in my pajamas!  Jesus came as a gift.  He came to forgive of us our sins, he came to show us great love.  This Christmas, that it what I want for my family.  I want smiles, lots of hugs, I love you's all around.  I want to live out loud the call to "love one another as I have loved you."  This Christmas will be a celebration honoring Jesus, and His unfailing love for us.

To each of you my dear friends, I pray that you will honor Jesus by showing love and mercy where you haven't been showing it.  I pray that love overflow your homes, and hearts with the knowledge that Jesus came to save us, and show us love.  Finally I pray, that if your heart does not have a home with Jesus that you will hear his knock and open the door, to the best Christmas gift ever given.

Merry Christmas!

Luke 2: 8- 14

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

 ¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

 ¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
   and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

My top 5 favorite Christmas Songs

I decided to do something a little different.  I have had many things floating around that I wanted to write about but decided to try something new.  When I can complete a thought that is not about baking, wrapping, and figuring out all the family stuff, I will let you know!

http://youtu.be/jYlkbYq0zII

O Come Emmanuel.

I think this may be my absolute favorite Christmas song.  First may I just say, I love Third Day, and think Mac Powell can sing the Oscar Meyer Hot dog song and I would love it.  However, I find this song to be incredibly powerful. 

http://youtu.be/30o_QZnVBjA

I admit that growing up, I was like, Silent Night again?  Really can't we mix it up?  I believe this might have been the only Christmas carol that my Pastor must have liked, because it seems like it was all the time, and frankly, I grew tired of it.  Now when Mercy Me came out with this version, I found a new love for it.  I enjoy Mercy Me, and I like the guitar, and "folky" sound they give this carol. 

http://youtu.be/FHkroAFnQwc

It is all about the simple guitar.  You can hear the words and they are heart felt.  Love it!

http://youtu.be/OUvt8Iolw0A

Again acoustic rock sound, you just can't go wrong.

http://youtu.be/OUvt8Iolw0A

One word: Elf
"Cotton headed ninny muggins!"

Bonus Track:

http://youtu.be/F4rC2JoZoAg

I hope this helps you get in the Christmas spirit.  As you rush around this week to prepare for celebrating, I pray that each of you will remember the gift of the baby Jesus.  I pray that you will remember that, Jesus was the most important gift ever given.  God Bless each of you and Merry Christmas!

Naughty or Nice: Good vs Evil

 I wonder why it is sometimes hard to do the right thing.  This has been echoing in my mind for a few days now.  I keep thinking about the age-old battle of good vs evil and the war on Christianity.  After listening in Sunday school today, I am certain that this should be the topic of my blog. 

I believe there is a war on Christianity.  I believe as Christians we are constantly under attacked by those who do not believe and want to end the hope and love found in Christ Jesus.  However, I will propose, that while this is a very important battle, we also need to address the other parallel and equally important war.  That is the war within us, often pictured as the angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other.

Here is an example of why sometimes doing the right thing, can be hard.

This week I visited a friend in the hospital.  I previously wrote about this same family.  This couple is watching their child die, and they have shown the most amazing faith and courage.  I only had a few minutes to visit.  I wanted to show God’s love, I wanted to pray with them, and I wanted them to know they have support.  I walked into the hospital room, and was greeted with a warm smile from the mother.  I gave her some chocolate because frankly, that is what I want in times of crisis.  Then I felt this overwhelming sense of what do I say now?  What do I do now?  How can I really help?  All these questions began flooding my mind filling me with doubts about my presence being there.  This gave way to nervous small talk about irrelevant stuff.  I prayed with her, and then I left.  I left feeling as if everything I said and did was all wrong!

Now, as you read that paragraph, what did you notice?  Once at home, I had an epiphany.  The epiphany was two fold.  First, there is way to much “I” in the paragraph above, not nearly enough God.  Secondly, was that I let the “devil on my shoulder” convince me that what I was doing was not good enough, and unnecessary.  You see, I think that we often don’t do good things because of the awkwardness of the moment.  I believe that most people want to do good things, but often hear that voice saying, “No don’t do that YOU will look stupid or YOU will look fake.”  When the truth is, God calls us to love one another, and to take care of those in need.  Any small gesture is better than no gesture at all.

John 13: 34-35

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Romans 12: 9-10

⁹ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

2 Corinthians 11

 ¹¹ Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

The verses are so convicting to me.  Love sincere, honor others above yourself, encourage one another, and the God of love and peace will be with you!  After my epiphany, I thought, regardless of what my own insecurities are I know I did the right thing.  God calls us to love, to take care of one another, to serve each other, and provide needs when someone cannot meet their needs.

I believe we are in fact at war.  I think that the devil creeps up on us in so many more ways than we even realize.  He uses our guilt, our past, and our insecurities to keep us from moving forward.  While we easily see the war on Christianity in the media, out of Hollywood, or the Middle East, it is the war on our shoulders that may be the biggest threat to our souls.  In this season of Christmas, when the birth of Jesus is celebrated, I think it is easy to find myself on the naughty list.  It isn’t because of an abundance of naughty deeds, it is because there are few sacrificing nice deeds where there should be an abundance.  There are whispers in my ears from my shoulders telling me to show more love, give more fully, and live with more Christ and less me.  These whispers are not just for Christmas, they are for all the time, when Jesus, the one who counts is watching.

As Christmas quickly approaches, I ask these simple questions, which shoulder are you listening to?  Are you on the naughty or nice list?  Where is Christ in your celebration?  By your love, can anyone tell you are a disciple of the God of love and peace?  The answers for me, if I am being honest, can sometimes change from minute to minute. My hope is that as I continue to seek God, my consistency will change from minute-to-minute, to week-to-week, to year-to-year.

This is my mindset, now let me hear yours!