G is for Gave

From the kind heart of Denise King.....

God Gave His Son....

On this Saturday in between Good Friday, the reflection of the sacrifice of Christ's tortures death on the cross and tomorrow, the celebration over victory over death with our Savior's resurrection I think about today.  Today the day that was in between.  God knew it would happen it was part of the plan but there was still that day in between of silence, separation and being alone

....and yet God knew that tomorrow, tomorrow was going to be different then today.  Tomorrow holds Hope. 

Ever feel like that? I think we all have those days - days were it feels like there is silence, days I feel alone and distant from God - days I feel separated from my spouse, days that my children and I are like from different planets not speaking the same language.  God knew this separation.  It is part of the plan - without today we can't have tomorrows hope.

There are many people in our community that are feeling alone, full of grief and abandonment.  Lets take time to reach out to others to be a reflection of God who Gave - encouraging others to know that tomorrow holds hope for being better, different, and one that fulfills His promises.  "I will never leave you or forsake you".

As we celebrate our risen Savior, we remember Sheila and Tim Lueking as they wait for their son's return.  If you have any information on Derek or his whereabouts, please contact us here at the blog or on Facebook at this link.

http://www.facebook.com/FindDerekLueking

F is for Family

Maria Willis is the writer for the blog today. 


I miss my family! I went from a house full to a house empty. But the fact is, we will always be family, no matter where everyone is. The Willis family is a close family. I don’t know exactly why we are all so close, but here are some things that I feel helped in our closeness. We never compared our kids to each other, but loved them for their own uniqueness & abilities. We encouraged them to be happy for each other for their accomplishments. We did fun things together and encouraged them to do fun things together too. If I had to give good parenting advice other than worshiping and praising God as a family, it would be to spend lots of time with your children and show a true interest in the things that they are interested in. It wasn’t always peaceful in our household and we had our fair share of sibling fights, but strongly encouraging them to apologize to each other and that they needed to make amends before night fall because that was pleasing to God. And if I was at fault, I would apologize to them, teaching them that a parent sometimes falls short and needs to make amends as well. This is also a good verse for a Husband/Wife relationship as well as any relationship you may have;

“Be angry and yet, do not sin. Do not let the sun go down on your anger. And do not give the devil an opportunity.” Ephesians 4:26-27

Being around my family is always such a joy! Listening to their laughter is priceless. I am blessed!

E for Encouragement

Cindy Wayland shares her thoughts today.... Encouragement

“Encourage one another daily.” Hebrews 3:13

My son played baseball from the time he was four years old through his senior year of high school. For those of you who have or have had children/grandchildren involved in sports, you are well aware that there are those coaches and parents who encourage the kids on the team -- and then there are those “other” coaches and parents…

I must say that throughout his baseball “career,” I can’t recall any of Dennis’ baseball coaches being anything but encouraging. I remember his T-ball coach who worked with each of the kids on the team to encourage them and teach them to hit the ball off the tee, then run around the bases – “No, the other way – counterclockwise!”; and when they fielded the ball, to throw it to the kid at first base – or second base – or third base – or home plate. (They also grinned when the kids were picking dandelions in the outfield or kicking dirt in the infield…)

Several years later, when it was the kids pitching the baseball to the batters (rather than hitting the ball off a tee or the coach using a pitching machine), his coach asked Dennis if he wanted to pitch. Dennis was excited, but also nervous, about throwing the baseball at – I mean to – the kid with the bat. But this coach encouraged him after each pitch, “You’re doing a great job, Dennis!” With each word of encouragement from the coach, Dennis’ confidence as a pitcher grew.

A few years later, Dennis became interested in playing basketball. After playing a couple of years in a non-competitive church program, he wanted to try playing in a more competitive league. During one game, Dennis was wide open under the basket. The ball bounced into his hands and he made a beautiful lay-up – into the opposing team’s basket! The coach called a time out, yelled at Dennis for scoring for the other team, and sat him on the bench. Dennis’ love of basketball diminished somewhat that day, and he only played basketball for another year or two.

D is for Daughters

Paula Underwood is today's writer.

I remember this picture as if it were yesterday, March, 1999, just a week or so after Megan was born. Look at these 2 beautiful lives we brought into this world! I remember feeling overwhelmed. Would I be as good a mom as my mom was? Would I be able to sit up nights with my daughters who had bad dreams, were sick, or just had a horrible break up with a boyfriend? Who will these tiny lives come to be?

I think as a mom one of my biggest concerns is making sure my daughters are happy, fulfilled, encouraged, and become who they strive to be, but who will that be? Back then I saw Hayley copying me with her baby doll as I nursed Megan and I thought, ah, she will be a great mommy some day! As they got a little bigger and started to play together I saw Hayley “teaching” Megan the alphabet–maybe she will be a teacher some day! A few years ago as my own mother went through the horrible experience of losing her leg I witnessed Megan, alone in the hospital room with grandma, feeding her some lunch, and loving on her in ways that only a granddaughter could love–she has the gift of compassion, love, and isn’t grossed out by blood, maybe she will be a nurse or doctor!


Both girls are now teenagers, Hayley (left) is in her first year of high school and will be 15 this summer, Megan (right) just turned 13 (that’s daddy Luke–my rock–in the middle). Both are craving more independence and for mom not to hover. While they are off being independent I am constantly worrying that they will get hurt or get into a situation where they need help. They go off on their own, and check back quite often (all I want is a text letting me know where they are – and for them to know that I can be there in a matter of minutes if they need me to be). It’s funny how I don’t want either of our daughters to fail, but look back on my own failings and realize that I actually learned from them. How do I just sit back when I see it coming and let it happen to them? How did my mom do it? Oh, how I wish my mom was around to ask her… I do remember asking my mom if the worrying ever stops–she assured me that no, it never stops, and then chuckled, “what you worry about changes, though.” I get that.

I strive daily to be an example of a loving wife and mother, and strong and independent woman. I want to set a good example for our daughters, praying that they will see they truly can be whatever they want to be, and with a loving and encouraging family, and a continued strong faith in God they can truly have it all.

“The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me; Your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.”

Psalm 138:8

C is for Compassion

We got off of the elevator at the Senior Home and located the door we needed. It was locked and only the swipe of a key card could get us in. John's mother was behind that door and she was there for her own safety because she has Alzheimer's Disease.

Her eyes lit up when she saw him and she knew who he was and they hugged. Standing beside him, I was ignored but I didn't take it personally because I knew Irene didn't remember me. We rode the elevator down and signed her out, John taking her hand and leading her every step, helping her into the car, fastening the seat belt and getting her comfy. She used to do those things for him.

We decided on a gentle walk at the local park and John helped her unfasten the seat belt and get out of the car. He guided her to the sidewalk and walked beside her chatting about the day. She noticed her shoe was untied and John knelt at her feet and tied it for her. She used to tie his shoes.


Around the park we walked and I followed behind, blessed by the sight of my husband with his arm around his mother, guiding her along and keeping her steady. At one point, going up some steps, she stumbled and fell. He picked her up and brushed her off. She used to pick him up when he fell.

We finished the day by going to dinner at a casual sandwich place. John helped her get seated and pick out what she wanted and when the food arrived, he cut it up. She couldn't get her straw in the cup and after watching her try for a bit, he put the lid on and the straw in place. All through dinner he kept an eye on her to make sure she ate and didn't have trouble. She used to make sure he ate properly so he would grow big and strong.

Back at the senior home, I stayed in the car to give them just a few more minutes alone, and John took his mom back in and got her settled down for the night. He told her he loved her and would see her soon and not to worry that he would be looking out for her. She used to do that for him when she tucked him in at night.

I learned something in watching my husband interact with his mother. He has a great compassionate heart, a heart that is willing to do whatever it takes to help those he loves. I saw it in the tying of a shoe, the curve of an arm, the gentle words of reminder, and the look in his eyes as he cared for the woman who taught him those things. Irene may not remember his childhood, but I will forever be grateful she raised such a tender and compassionate man.

Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

B is for Burden

I recently saw a list of some attributes of God. Normally, that’s not anything new – I’ve seen multiple lists like this over the years and I’m sure many of us could easily come up with a list of our own… awesome, counselor, deliverer, etc. But one attribute on this particular list caught my attention; it was a word I’ve never seen on such lists before and one I’d never think to add – it was Burden.

Burden? As an attribute of God? I don’t know about you, but that word has a pretty negative connotation to me. I immediately think of something heavy, tiresome, and difficult. I don’t want to be burdened! How is this considered a Godly attribute? I decided to do some in-depth research, but my 5-minutes on Google produced few results. I concluded that it didn’t make any sense and whoever made that list was a tad confused.

However, over the next several days, it kept coming to mind. How could God be a burden? Then I began to wonder – do I sometimes consider God a burden? Can living a Christian life be burdensome to us? What about when all my coworkers go out on Friday night, but I’m not invited? What about when people automatically label Christians as hypocrites or narrow-minded or judgmental? What about when I really want to go to Disney World for vacation, but I feel the leading to go on a mission trip or volunteer at VBS instead? Is it a burden to give my money to the church’s generosity program instead of having my daily Starbucks?

Those kinds of questions convicted me a bit. I often do my “Christian duty,” but I sometimes do it while grumbling under my breath. And just while typing that sentence, I thought, “Well, gee, don’t most things we consider to be a 'duty' often seem burdensome to us?” So maybe calling it a ”duty” is wrong. What if we called it an “opportunity” instead?

Anywho, back to what I saying. I’m sure we can all think of an instance when being a Christian was harder than we’d like. But how many times have we heard someone say how much fun they had volunteering for VBS, or how much they learned about God on a mission trip. Ever think that by not going out on Friday night, we possibly avoided catastrophe and a midnight call from a jail cell (or at least a hangover)? And how good do you feel after helping someone in need, seeing their smile as they thank you? And has someone’s inaccurate view of Christianity ever opened the door for a good discussion?

While I'm sure this is not even close to what the author of the attributes list intended, my point is sometimes doing something we don’t want to do (or not doing something we do want to do) can feel burdensome, but God only has the best intentions for us. After all, in Matthew 11:30, Jesus says, “for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” It’s a light burden, even if that sounds like an oxymoron.

All this is kind of floating around in my head, a bit disjointed, so I apologize if this blog is somewhat rambly (it’s a new word I just made up; go with it). I thought maybe y’all could ramble through it with me. :-)

One more thing – I looked up “burden” in the dictionary and, yes, one of the definitions is “that which is borne with difficulty; obligation.” But, another definition is simply “that which is carried.” And since we have God with us at all times, maybe being burdened by God is actually a good thing.

With Abandon

One of my favorite things to do is take my Bible study to Tony's Pizza and grab a slice of tomato, spinach, and ricotta pie to eat while I read. One slice only. That's all I'll allow myself.

When I was a little girl, my brother took great delight in calling me fat, tub of lard, Crisco, etc...over and over again. He's made fun of me mercilessly until I believed what he said about me and from then on, I've had a love hate relationship with food. I love to eat, but I hate the way I feel after, even if I haven't eaten that much. I'm working on it with the Lord and He's brought me a long way toward shedding that burden, praise Him!!

Anyway, I was at Tony's doing my study and I noticed a tiny pigtailed girl standing in a booth near mine, holding two slabs of pizza and chowing down. She would take a bite and streeeeetch out the mozzarella and chew, then take another bite and streeeetch out the mozzarella and chew. I was fascinated by the utter lack of concern and absolute enjoyment of the moment. She was loving that piece of pizza and I, who had cut up my one slice in small pieces to make it last, felt sad. Did I ever enjoy life with that kind of abandon? If someone watched me eat would they see pleasure or the weight of guilt already settling over me?

I may never stand in a booth clutching two slices of pizza and stretching the cheese as far as it will go, but with the Lord's help, I will abandon the feelings of guilt associated with food and will be able to eat, with ABANDON, the wonderful things the Lord has provided.

Psalm 34:8
Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.