Tornadoes this Side of Oklahoma

Trial and tribulation doesn't always come in the form of tsunami waves and tornado winds.

In the world we know as real-life and day-to-day monotony, our struggles and strains are the simple moment-to-moment, breath-by-breath ordinary what's-the-big-deal issues. They're the little irritants that side swipe us throughout the day one-by-one with no respite in between. And some of us simply call them Mondays:

1. running behind schedule

2. arguing children in the backseat

3. a long evening of homework

4. one too many grocery store stops on the list

5. a depleted bank account

6. that stack of unpaid bills

7. unfinished chores

8. clogged sinks and hair filled drains

9. unbearable physical ailments

10. minor aches and pains

11. the coffee pot overflowing at 5:30am

12. that phone call from the school

13. a flashing red engine light

14. the almost empty, out-of-date milk jug in the midst of preparing mac-n-cheese

15. four bald tires

16. the report card

17. an eleven-year-old growing too fast and all of a sudden having nothing to wear Monday morning (and his nothing to wear is far unlike my nothing to wear)

18. a vacuum cleaner that blows dust about the house

19. the drawer that needs fixed- for several months now

20. a job that just keeps taking more than it gives

21. poison oak

22. waiting expectantly for a missing cat to come home

23. a bad hair day (admit it, it's distracted you more than once)

24. the number on the scale or the size on the tag

25. ph levels in the pool

26. a rebellious child

27. dusty book shelves

30. failing at people pleasing

31. far away family slowly losing a loved one

32. a hubby who works graveyard

33. and then volunteers during the day

34. and then thinks he can survive off of 5 hours of sleep

35. a small list of discouragement that could continue endlessly.

But praise God it doesn't!!! Seriously, I had to make myself stop. It was getting depressing. Because honestly everything on this list I've either experienced or am experiencing.

Did you feel like some of them weren't worth mentioning? I did. Number 11? Really? Does it truly deserve a place on the list? YES! Because if you're up at 5:30, then I know you need coffee. And if the coffee pot overflowed all over the counter rather than into the pot, then you know you needed coffee to fix the coffee mishap. But you didn't have any coffee. Because it overflowed all over the kitchen. And now what? Can you really read your devotional, and intercede without a cup-a-joe?

And then we turn on the radio. It echoes of school shootings and school buildings collapsing on helpless children. We feel guilt and shame. We experience anger and mull over questions. Why are those parents being subjected to this? Why them and not me? What if it were my child? Lord, help me to be more thankful!

And our trials begin to look so insignificant and selfish. We place them next to the worst of tragedies and what appeared overwhelming is only a minor diversion; a small distraction compared to the grandest of nightmares.

But is our nightmare any less frightening simply because another's is more terrifying? Does one mother's plea in childbearing pain lessen another's merely because her pain cuts deeper?

The struggles and wrestlings you are going through do not evaporate when devastation hits on the other side of the country. You are a mom going through trials of your own. She is a mom facing heartache you've never been asked to bear. Both are moms. Both are struggling. One mama's unbearable anguish doesn't lessen another's. It only reminds us that life is hard in Oregon, Oklahoma, India, and in the seats of our own kitchen tables and minivans.

Have you ever noticed what Jesus said would choke the Word He puts in us? Is it the devil? No- "the cares of this world." It is always our little worries.

~Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

We watch the storms of the desert roll on in gruesome destruction while stumbling over the bumps of Oregon's dirt roads. We walk them and run them, and we trip over them. They're not being torn up by raging wind, but they're tearing up the knees of moms falling face first over misplaced Legos and piles of clean laundry thrown into careless heaps on the floor.

And when we can't pay that water bill, we can remember the God who separated the sea and split the rock. Seriously, water has never been an issue for the one who spoke it into existence.

Casting our care upon Him because He cares for us is knowing He's mindful. He's paying attention. He's thinking and considering your anxieties and apprehensions. He's aware of the unemployed one feeling rejection after rejection. The one wanting only to give up and believe the lies. And massive tempests and colossal currents do not lessen His thoughts toward you. Our God is never so engaged with another's affliction that He disregards your distress.

Take it to Him, sisters!

The Lamb who died to save is the Shepherd who lives to care for us. ~Our Daily Bread

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Curb That Hunger!

After returning home from the gym this morning, I was starving! I know I use that word loosely, since I have no idea what it’s like to truly starve, but my stomach seriously felt as if it were eating itself away. Maybe it would be more proper to say I was famished, ravenous, or simply HUNGRY. My mind and body were weak and tired and I knew I needed food immediately! However, NOTHING sounded the least bit appealing. I honestly couldn’t find or think of anything I wanted to eat. Fruit, yogurt, a sandwich, not even my favorite crackers and hummus or pumpkin pie sounded pleasing! Nope, nothing. Regardless, God designed our bodies to tell our brains when we have no energy and are in need of fuel, and my body was doing exactly that. So of course, I did what any rational person does, and fed it.

You know, I often have these same struggles during my ‘time’ with the Lord. Oh how I wish I could say I was super spiritual and that I hunger after His word daily. I want to say that every time I sit with Him, whether in the scriptures or in prayer, I am given a perfect word for whatever situation I am in. This is so untrue in my life. 

Have you ever craved a big greasy burger loaded with cheese, bacon, mayo, and a big fat white bun? Finish it off with fries on the side, and don’t forget the diet Pepsi (no Coke, please)!  When we give in to this craving, oh how that burger hits the spot and satisfies like nothing else could. Now I’m beginning to form an appetite!

Just as that burger satisfies our physical hunger, God’s Word satisfies our spiritual hunger. And you know what? So often I am spiritually famished, starving to be filled. Yet, I open my bible, turning to some of my favorite Psalms, a chapter in Proverbs, or one of my usual landing places, such as the book of James or Philippians, and I am left completely unsatisfied. God doesn’t seem to be speaking to me, His Word isn’t applying to my life, and I feel I am simply reading for reading’s sake. Know what I’m talking about?

What are we to do in this situation? How do we deal with times of ‘silence’ from the Word? When our spirit is hungry, yet God’s Word is undesirable, are we to just remain in our famished, ravenous state? Why, that would be as ridiculous as starving our body its necessary food simply because ‘nothing sounds enticing.’ Yet, how often do we do just that: go days upon days, or even months upon months without reading the Word because it’s not satisfying us the way we desire. That is utterly selfish, and I am guilty of such. Are you?

 I’m amazed at how much we do because of selfish ambition or gain. Why can’t I read the Word daily only because God says to (Josh 1:8); because it pleases my Father (2 Tim 2:15)? Why don’t I turn to it consistently because I know what I read will NOT return void (Isa 55:22) even if I feel it is unfruitful in my life at the moment?  I so desire to read God’s Word out of pure love and devotion to Him (John 14:23-24) rather than selfishly seeking to gain some revelation or special feeling that may not always be granted.  Jesus said if we are faithful in the little things, He will make us ruler over many things (Matt 25:21). Let’s start with this ‘little’ thing. Will you commit with me to read God’s Word every day for the next week, even if you are stuck reading for reading’s sake? It’s a small goal, and completely doable! Let’s do this together!

I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.

-Job 23:12

To Everything There is a Season

It is said that our brains need about eight hours of sleep each night to receive maximum rejuvenation. It is also believed that a short 10-20 minute nap will revitalize the tired mind. However too much sleep at night, or napping longer than the allotted twenty minutes is likely to leave us unmotivated and lethargic. Of course, a little coffee will fix that problem (haha!), but only for a short time. Science also tells us that during times of rest and sleep all of our body’s muscles are allowed to grow, repair, and strengthen.

So, when I’m at the gym pumping iron, exerting myself on the elliptical, swimming laps in the pool, or running on the treadmill am I not strengthening my muscles? While persevering through two years of college courses and straining to help my daughter with Algebra, am I not benefitting my brain? This whole time all I really needed was sleep? Um, no! Don’t we all wish it were that simple! Unfortunately it’s not. Sadly, we must have a combination of both exercise and rest, and truth be told, the majority of us lack in one or both of these areas; we either don’t get enough sleep, don’t get enough exercise, or both.

La Cruz Sinaloa Mexico

Quite a few years ago, after multiple short term trips to Mexico, God called my family back for a five month “missionary” adventure. I was so excited, anticipating the opportunity to serve, minister, teach, encourage, do anything and everything for God’s kingdom! After all, that’s what we did during the short weeks we spent there previously. The reality of living in Mexico was far from my hopes and expectations. Yes, we were busy studying, teaching, reaching out to others, and sharing the Good News. However, the majority of my time was spent homeschooling my daughter, doing laundry (such a difficult task when you remove American conveniences), cleaning up after my sick son (Mexican parasites), and simply being a mom. I remember questioning “Why do You have me here, Lord? I surely could do all of THIS back home.” Little did I realize it was during this time that God was taking all the things He had taught me years prior and building them up. When I felt as if I were completely ineffective and useless, God was strengthening me in my faith, my beliefs, my relationship with Him; He was walking me higher up that Mountain!

Although we cannot feel, see, or sense our brains and muscles growing and developing at night, we know they are. We can also take comfort in the fact that He is at work in each of us whether we feel it or not, just as He was with me in Mexico. Nevertheless, we must not neglect the importance of both resting in Him and running hard for Him. Just as too much sleep and insignificant exercise leave us lethargic, running hard and neglecting those Red Light Moments will profoundly hinder our growth. What season of life are you in right now? Are you working those muscles, pushing as hard as you can push, letting Him stretch you beyond your capabilities? Or are you resting and allowing God to strengthen and rebuild?

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven… a time to break down, and a time to build up.

-Ecclesiastes 3:1,3

Step by Step

If you are following my posts much (which of course, I pray you are), I hope you haven’t grown weary of my ramblings related to running. As I shared on my About Me page, although I acknowledge that God is always speaking to me, it is during my runs that I tend to be most tuned in to Him. It is during this time that I am able to put this world and its cares aside and ponder Him, His voice, His Word. I am thankful for this time with Him!

So today I reflect on rejoicing in the moment; directing my attention on the day at hand because this is the day the Lord has made (Ps 118:24). One thing I have been learning about myself is that I am rarely in the ‘here and now,’ but rather in the ‘there and then.’ In other words, I am so consumed with my destination that I neglect the very place God has me in at this moment.

A quarter of the way into my run today, I realized I was losing energy all too soon. The reason? Simply put, I was so engrossed in finishing that I was not paying attention to my speed and started out too fast (story of my life). However, as I slowed my stride, attempting to focus on each step, I began feeling less winded, as though I would finish the full course, and I did.

God’s Word tells me to press toward the goal by reaching for that prize (Phil 3:14) and running hard for Him (Heb 12:1). However, if I don’t count the cost, I may stop short and be unable to finish (Lk 14:28-30). How embarrassing is that? Who starts a race they are not convinced they can finish? Certainly not me.

I desire to take these small lessons and apply them to my daily walk as a wife, mother, friend, and daughter. I desperately long to relish each moment I have. I yearn to appreciate the ‘little’ things in life, to focus on each step, to slow down my pace, and to see God’s hand at work. These are the things that nourish and strengthen me to finish strong tomorrow. These are the things that allow me to fight the good fight, finish the race, keep the faith, and grab hold of my crown (2 Tim 4:7-8).

For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it- lest after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘this man began to build and was not able to finish’?

~ Luke 14:28-30

Around and Around

The changes of seasons are sometimes beautiful and anxiously anticipated.  We look forward to the colors of fall, moving into a schedule with the new school year, and the coming of gathered family for the holidays. On the other hand, this new season can bring dreaded coldness and dryness distinctly unlike the drought of summer. We may begin moving about each day as if in some sort of trance, stuck in the daily grind of work, school, sports, laundry, dishes, only to tuck the kids in at night so we can wake and do it all over again. Oh the mundaness of it all. Hehe, my computer tells me ‘mundaness’ is not a word. It is obviously NOT a mother, because this word fits into my life day in and day out. Yours?


How about you?  Do you ever have that feeling of being stuck in a rut?  Ever feel as if you’re in a dry wilderness, gasping for a taste of God, a small drop of His presence, just a sip of His Word; struggling for life? Your soul thirsting for God, your flesh longing for Him, in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water (Ps 63:1). At times we feel as if we wander, gazing upon the mountain before us, longing for that mountaintop experience. We know we’ve been there before, long ago.  We remember the sensation; the same one Peter, James, and John must have felt as they stood atop that mount with the transfigured Lord of Lords (Matt 17). Looking back summons feelings of disgust at our current, parched situation.  “How did I get here again?  Why do I do this to myself?  Why do I do it to You, Lord? Where have I gone wrong?” We may even plead with Him to take us from this place. 

Recently an elder of my home fellowship referred to this mountain in life in a sermon entitled Who are your Angels?. He described it as having a track around it and talked of walking around and around that track; around and around that mountain.  He went on to tell how he repeatedly saw the same scenery over and over again. In his frustrated and discouraged state he said, “He we are again, same old place, God.” Sound familiar?  I had to laugh as he shared only because I’ve been in the same place so many times myself. However, God responded to his cries of frustration, whispering, “No. Every time you go around that track you are higher on the mountain.”[1] This, my dear sister, was a drop of God’s presence for a thirsty soul. This was a sip of His Word that we so long for when in that place. God is faithful and sometimes we just need a change in perspective.

 The way of life winds upward for the wise,

That he may turn away from hell below.

~Proverbs 15:24

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[1] Terry Nelson – Sunday, Nov 6, 2011 “Who are your Angels?” http://camasfellowship.org/media/sermons/special/terrynelson11062011/