Through My Eyes

Gems Collected in May - Danielle DeCarlo

2010-07-01T07:49:00.000-05:00

Do you know that our church is full of wise women? I am so glad that God surrounded me with wise women because he knew that I would need it! Every time issues arise, God supplies the perfect person with the perfect words to lead me in the right direction. On Wednesday nights in May we were blessed by more wise women sharing their insights gained through years of child rearing. It was an extension of His Very Own focused on the area of Loving Our Kids, and each week highlighted a different age group. The hour that we spent together each week barely scratched the surface of what these women have experienced, but I know who might have the answers for my future problems! Each week my mind and heart were flooded with smart ideas, practical solutions, and curious thoughts that I had not begun to explore. I am thankful for the opportunity to bask in their wisdom, and each week there was at least one thought that spoke exactly to me. Things that touched what I had been feeling or thinking, nuggets planned especially for me. Let me share a few of the “nuggets” that have stuck with me.

The first week we discussed babies and toddlers and it was Gilda Shelby’s comment, “Kids can tell phony.” She was referring to our relationship with God and how it needs to be more than talk if we are going to touch our kids. “Relationship” has been one of my buzz words this year. God changes me through my relationship with him, and that’s the way I can influence my kids. Travis knows when I am trying to feed him a line. Even Justin gives me that look that says, “Come on, Mom, I know better than that!” They can see through to my heart, and if it’s not right, they know. I want my heart to ooze God’s love so that it can be reflected openly and sincerely in all aspects of my life. Then my kids can’t help but be touched and affected by that same love.

The second week focused on elementary age kids and Cheryl McCalister spoke to me when she said, “Everyone has issues.” That was for all us women who spend our entire lives comparing ourselves to each other (and usually coming up short). That day, it was me… big time! For some reason, we women are masters at identifying every one of our flaws and failures and accentuating them a hundred-fold in our minds, sure that everyone else knows them too. Sometimes this leads us to beating ourselves up over our inadequacies. Other times, we hunt for any real or imagined shortcomings in others to make ourselves feel a little better, if only for a short time. That’s not helping my kids (or me, for that matter), and it’s not teaching them about what is right. Philippians 4:8 hits me right between the eyes: “Whatever is true…noble…right…pure…lovely…admirable…excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things.” There is no room for excellent thoughts if all I am focused on is “issues”.

Week three brought the discussion on jr. high/high school age children. Self-esteem seemed to be the dominant theme, and Ashley Atnip helped me to see the role that we can play in shaping that self-esteem with the correct focus. While I can’t quote her exact words, she said that girls’ self-esteem comes from their looks and guys’ from their ability to perform (mostly in sports). She explained that parents need to change that focus and show teens that their value comes from God, as his creation and through being his child who is dearly loved. How amazing that must be for the parent who can truly accomplish that with God’s direction! I can see how important it is to plant this idea at an early age and reintroduce it as the child matures. Such a valuable nugget!

The last week brought the final stop in parenting: adult children. Everyone seemed to agree that our babies are always our children, but the relationship changes. All the ladies concurred that there is a time when we have to allow the children to seek us for advice, rather than offering it freely. Tina Shoemaker said it best when she mentioned questioning her children’s grocery purchases. “Should they really be buying that?? Peanut butter and tuna fish are more in their budget!” But the thought was never spoken. Probably a good choice! But that is a hard place for me to think about when I am still changing diapers and choosing my children’s clothing! This is another one of those things that doesn’t happen overnight. If my goal is preparing my kids to make decisions on their own, then I want to offer them decisions now and show them the consequences of bad decisions. Especially when the consequences are not as dire.

This is just what I heard in our panels in May. That’s what God wanted me to hear. Being a mother is awesome, and I don’t mean really cool. I have the greatest sense of awe when I think about the job of preparing my children for eternity. I hope they do well on earth, but that pales in comparison with the greater hope I have for them. I pray that they choose Christ and serve him during their days here in anticipation of the greater joy in heaven. It’s a great task, but one that God prepares and equips us to face. These women are giants to me and I am blessed to have them as advisors and confidants in this journey to the eternal.

The Kingdom of Heaven Belongs to These: Gail Matthews

2010-04-28T10:21:00.003-05:00

I observed a beautiful event on Sunday. While walking to my office in the church building, I stopped alongside a mom and dad as they watched the Bible class for babies, specifically, as they watched their precious little girl in that Bible class. We stood outside a one-way window and observed the process going on behind the glass.

Since I did not have a little one in that class, my eyes stayed on the teacher, Jimmie Sue Long. And I marveled. There were other helpers in the room. After all, when there are over 10 babies in one room - you need helpers! But there was a calm in the room - an engagement of little eyes and hands focused on this teacher. She talked to them. She touched them. She had their rapt attention as she spoke about God - their God.

And I thought about the paintings we have seen of Jesus touching and holding little ones. I remembered when Jesus reprimanded His disciples for trying to keep the children away from Him. (Matthew 19: 13 - 15) He said: "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

I am grateful that God has gifted many of our women with the gift of touching children. I witnessed it being exercised beautifully that Sunday. And I am grateful for Jimmie Sue and her willingness to use those God-given gifts to bless the children in this place.

If you are one of the many women who are being the "hands and feet of Jesus" to our children ... THANK YOU ... I pray God's continued blessings on you and your families.

Titus 2 Tidbits

2010-04-13T14:53:00.004-05:00

Jean Himes served on the panel that discussed "Loving Our Children". Tidbits from Jean:

"God gave Glenn and I two little boys. I like boys' forthright manner of communication and the way they get the 'big picture' usually. Little girls seem more interested in the details of a project and I thought that was interesting. I thought often that children taught me a lot more than I taught them especially in the area of love and forgiveness. A child's heart is a beautiful thing. Between my mom's example of treating the tiniest child with respect and Glenn's example of always showing love to our children regardless of their inappropriate behavior at times, I feel I was fortunate to learn from two excellent parents.

I always loved Florence Henderson's Jello commercial: 'At our house, we treat company like family and family like company.' I think that is a Godly sentiment because it helps us remember to treat our family with love and respect instead of saving it for 'company'!"

Nancy Wiese served on the panel discussing "Practicing Kindness and Goodness". Nancy emphasized the importance of forgiving others if we want to practice kindness and goodness. She spoke about the struggle to be a forgiving person - our desire to be a forgiving person without actually having to forgive! Tidbits from Nancy:

"Sometimes one does not want to forgive. When I found myself in that place, I had to begin by praying that God would help me WANT to forgive that individual. Also, I knew I needed forgiveness myself, so really had no choice but to begin the forgiving process. And, it is a process ... not a one time thought that I will forgive them ... I had to work on the wanting to for a while!"

Remember ... "Tell the older women to be reverent in behavior, not to be slanderers or slaves to drink; they are to teach what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be self-controlled, chaste, good managers of the household, kind, being submissive to their husbands, so that the word of God may not be discredited." (Titus 2: 3 - 5)

Titus 2 Women: Desire for Pure Living - Darla Whitehead

2010-04-13T14:45:00.001-05:00

When Danielle approached me and asked if I would be willing to be on a panel for
Titus 2 day, it made me a little uneasy. I’ve never liked to be the center of attention and this was way out of my comfort zone. With much prayer (my own & others) I decided that I really needed to do this. God does answer prayers! I believe He gave me the confidence to follow through. It was a great day.

In researching the scriptures and thinking about my desire to live a pure life, I came upon this scripture in Psalm 119:9-12: “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me your decrees.”

Compliance is the angle I chose to share. As a child I was very shy. I always wanted to please my parents, teachers, etc. and didn’t want to disappoint them. I feel the same way about my relationship with my heavenly Father. I want Him to be proud of me and don’t want to disappoint Him. I daily seek to be obedient to His will through prayer & Bible study. I struggle at times to keep my focus on Him. I need to rid myself of anything that would pull my attention away from Him. God knows my heart. Living pure is an attitude of the heart toward God.

I recommend the book A Woman After God’s Own Heart by Elizabeth George. She shares some great information about using our spiritual disciplines to live a life of obedience to God. I want to be remembered as a woman after God’s own heart.

Psalm 51:10: “Create in me a pure heart O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
Matthew 5:8: “Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God.”

Titus 2 Women: Home-making - Marcy Schaeffer

2010-04-05T16:07:00.004-05:00

Home-making … not House-keeping

Years ago, I started collecting and recording stories, poems, and anecdotes that spoke to me in my readings and I am working on notebook #4, and I am behind in my homework!! I keep reading books that peak my interest and pile them up to write about later! I really did not like book reports in school but now I see their value............hmmmm...........memory loss!!

One particular piece of wisdom was taped above my sink in our "starter" home (which we stayed on for 26 years!!!), and I have forgotten its origin, but not its lessons.

A Family is a Museum of Memories

1. Love more. Never waste an opportunity to tell someone that you love them. There are 3 rules for interpersonal relationships: 1. People are more important than things.
2. People are more important than things.
3. People are more important than things.
We had 2 sons and their friends (who were also boys!) and nerf balls, nerf guns, footballs, basketballs, etc. were always part of everyday life in the household. I have used every known glue known to man and all my "treasures" are glued together !@#!
Tell them "I love you" and accept your immeasurable worth as a human being. I am on your team even if your team is losing.

2. Laugh more. At yourself; At each other; There is never a time that we are together that someone doesn't bring up someone else's mistakes from the past that are hilarious, and we laugh , again, at such mistakes that we all make. The most fun in our time together seems to be at the table and with boys around all subjects seem to be open for discussion..................

3. Be together more. Especially 1 at a time, if possible, and with your extended families. Kids do love their cousins, so. It is such a special bond. We have been blessed with so many opportunities for river trips, farm trips, beach trips, DisneyWorld trips, ski trips, etc. that are directly related to the plans of our in-laws who valued family so much. Spend alot of time with your kids and be the parent--you can be friends later!! And such friends they are................

4. Be more encouraging, positive, and appreciative.

5. Listen more. I read a quote one day that said "i have never been hurt or hurt anyone by anything I did not say/" Wow! I needed that in my life. And I know that teenagers need to talk when they need to talk, so our best gift to our family may just be to listen.

6. Be more honest. Especially with my/your mistakes. They see us everyday and see right through us. Apologize. Be humble. Ask for their forgiveness when necessary.

7. Pay attention to the little things. And wear love on your sleeves, not your feelings, and not a chip on your shoulder.

8. Create a deeper sense of belonging. The family is their peer group. It lasts for a lifetime as friends come and go---graduations, moves,etc. We must teach our children to respect and cooperate with each other. We must teach them love and dignity for each other.

9. Share God more intimately. There is probably never a time when we are together that some conversation doesn't turn to our great God and His blessings, or fellow Christians that lift us up, or requests for prayers for our friends. We memorized alot of scripture in the summers and the kids still "have it" on their hearts----mine is not as easily recalled, anymore!! Speak His name often.

A Daughter's Wedding (Gail Matthews)

2010-03-12T10:20:00.006-06:00

My daughter was married on Saturday. It was a splendid occasion! She and her new husband were surrounded by family and a host of friends – all there to celebrate with them and to be witnesses to the vows of commitment they made to each other. The preparations had taken months. And the culmination was an explosion of beauty. The women were dressed in lovely gowns and they were radiant. The men were tuxedo-clad and handsome. Musicians played lovely music to welcome all into the sanctuary. Flowers cascaded down the aisle and across the front of the room in an array of fabulous color and form. A long-time friend and spiritual guide welcomed the bride and groom and spoke to them about love, about commitment, about marriage. He led them through promises to each other and the exchanging of rings to signify their vows.

The bulk of my task, as her mother, was finished. The room was dressed and beautiful. The gowns had been purchased and fitted. The photographers were scurrying about in the attempt to capture the splendid moments for memory’s sake. So I watched … and listened.

I focused on my child’s face. It was a picture of joy. Her eyes communicated everything – her love for this man, her willingness to give herself to him and to walk beside him. There was no apprehension on her face – no caution or fear – it was complete surrender to the reality of uniting with him. I was moved deep within my spirit.

Then the words of my Lord flooded my mind and heart. “Do not let your heart be troubled … I am preparing a place for you … I will come and take you to be with me so that you may be where I am.” I thought about the wedding language that the Lord uses to describe His relationship with His own – with me. I thought about the coming “wedding supper of the Lamb”. And I thought about myself. As I watched my daughter’s face, I wondered about my own face when I look upon my Lord. Is there that complete love? Do my eyes radiate the willingness to be where He is? Am I as willing to follow Him wherever He leads?

And there was dancing. My daughter dancing with her father – faces radiating love. My daughter dancing with her husband – faces aglow with the love they have for each other. I watched a father giving his daughter into the arms of the young man. And I remembered - Jesus spoke about His Father “giving” each believer to Him – a gift of indescribable worth. I am that gift to my Lord – a gift from the Father. Am I willing to stay in step with my Lord? Am I willing to make my steps fall in place with His – to follow His lead?

It was a beautiful night. My heart was beyond full and overflowing with gratitude. The experience also sends me to prayer:

O my Lord, I do want You to transform my heart into all loveliness for You.
My heart’s desire is to be beautiful for You.
I long to dance in perfect harmony with You.
I give myself to You again today … ever more fully … ever more graciously.
I am content in Your arms and in Your heart.
And I pray that my face, my entire being, radiates my love for You.

My Jesus ... My LORD.

His Very Own: Becoming a Titus 2 Woman (Danielle DeCarlo)

2010-02-01T14:34:00.001-06:00

When Travis was born, Randy stayed home from work for a couple of weeks and we enjoyed the time together as a family, getting to know our new little boy. And then he left us. He went back to work, and I was solely responsible for the survival of our baby from 7 am to 7 pm. I was nervous! It became my special moment every night when Randy returned and I would display Travis proudly and say, “Look what I did today! He’s still alive!” It took about a month or two before I got past that and felt fairly confident that Randy wouldn’t need to call and ask if we had made it another day. But I didn’t feel like I had mastered motherhood. There had to be something more than just keeping a baby alive. I wanted to move from keeping him alive to teaching him to thrive. But I wasn’t sure how to do that. And since that time there have been lots of times that I feel like there is something I am missing, but I am not sure how to figure it out. Sometimes I am not even sure what it is that I don’t know.

Elisabeth Elliot describes the way God planned for this need to be fulfilled. She calls it “spiritual mothering”: taking spiritual daughters under our wings to school them in the areas Paul mentions in Titus 2: loving their husbands and children, self-control, purity, kindness, being busy at home, and being subject to their husbands. She recounts the time Mrs. Cunningham, a sweet older Scottish woman, knocked at her door and said that God had given her a burden for Elisabeth and she wanted her to know that anytime Elisabeth needed to talk, she would be available. Elisabeth said that she spent many hours in her small apartment, drinking tea and opening up her heart to Mrs. Cunningham. Elisabeth says that she owes much to her spiritual mother, and she exhorts other women to follow her Biblical example and be spiritual mothers.

God has called us to teach the younger women these things, and we are seeking to respond with an event called His Very Own: Becoming a Titus 2 Woman. It is scheduled for Saturday, February 20 in the Ministry Building. We are planning a series of panel discussions focusing on each of the areas described in Titus 2. We will have 6 sessions with 2 topics running simultaneously, and each woman may choose 3 topics. We are seeking to create an environment that will generate some mentoring relationships and expose some of the hidden wisdom among our ladies. We are facilitating discussions, not presuming that any of us have arrived at perfection! Paul calls older women to teach the younger, and we ALL fit in both categories. We will have ladies ranging in age from their 20s all the way up to their 70s. We are praying that God would lead us into deeper relationship with each other, and that the wisdom that we possess does not end with us.

We are collecting questions to be discussed during this day. Any issue or concern you have, please write it down and place it in the pink box at any women’s event or during church at the welcome center. You do not need to sign your name, simply submit your concern and come to hear what advice and direction we can offer. We are hoping that you can find a gentle ear among our women, someone to teach you the things that you need to learn. And we are praying that as older women, we will be the teachers and counselors that we so desperately need.

Jeremiah 29:11 (Ruby Murphy & Gail Matthews)

2010-01-21T19:14:00.002-06:00

There is a very familiar passage in the book of Jeremiah - one that many Christians know and love. It may very well be one of your favorites. Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Ruby Murphy is reading through Jeremiah in her private meditation time. That allows her to have a strong sense of the context in which these words appear. Listen to the fresh insight that came to her as she came to these very familiar words ...

I'm up to chapter 29 in Jeremiah, and I read something that made "the light bulb come on." I'm familiar with verse 11 that says "I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future." I never knew the story leading up to that verse. God is telling the Jews that are in exile that, even though they are somewhere they don't want to be, make long-term plans anyway. And what really hit home for me was when He told them to pray for the city they were in, because if the city prospers, then they will prosper. It made me realize that just because I'm somewhere I don't want to be. God isn't leaving me hanging. He wants me to do well, and also to pray for some things I don't want to pray for. That part can be hard, but with God's help it can be done. And as we all know, prayer makes any situation easier.

Something else I've come to appreciate as I make my way through this book is the fact that God is unchanging. The things that broke His heart and upset Him thousands of years ago still break His heart and upset Him today. Because He is unchanging I know what He expects of me, all because some people from 2000+ years ago did break His heart. I pray that I don't act the same way. Let me learn from their mistakes.

Thank you, Ruby. I needed that reminder to pray for Houston, TX. Some of our readers may need that reminder to pray for their city, or their workplace, or some circumstance they are in the midst of that is unwelcome. Our God is truly a God of hope.

As we move into a new year, know that you serve a God of hope. You serve a God who has your best interest at heart - even when you have to walk in places you did not choose. Serve Him with joy and faithfulness. This unchanging God has your future - and He has your back!

Gail Matthews

2010-01-13T15:46:00.004-06:00

Sacred Pathways, by Gary Thomas

A Book Review by Sherry Casella

From the title I thought this would be a book about prayer, but it's quite different. Think Myers-Briggs temperament analysis, Florence Littauer's Your Personality Tree, and Gary Chapman's The 5 Love Languages stirred together, with a liberal sprinkling of the audio/visual/kinesthetic learning styles, and you'll have an idea of what this book addresses.

First, this book does not explore the validity of various world religions; Thomas' approach is unabashedly Christian. But although there is one God from Genesis-Revelation, Thomas observes that believers through the ages have related to Him in different ways. From the pages of history, he traces these style preferences to movements and controversies within the church, and makes a pretty convincing case that although "it would be simplistic to suggest that such differences were the sole or even primary cause of many church splits and denominations... they did have some effect." Exploring historic church movements, personality temperaments, and a variety of biblical characters, he identifies an assortment of responses or "sacred pathways" in which individuals naturally relate to God.

Each of us has a heart response to God that feels more natural -- our "hardwiring," if you will. This response usually settles across 2 or 3 areas. Thomas' premise: by identifying our own spiritual temperaments, we can begin to understand ourselves (and each other) better and develop new ways to draw near to God.

In Part 2, he devotes one chapter to each of these nine pathways:

The Naturalist: Loving God Out-of-Doors
The Sensate: Loving God With the Senses
The Traditionalist: Loving God through Ritual and Symbol
The Ascetic: Loving God in Solitude and Simplicity
The Activist: Loving God through Action, even Confrontation
The Caregiver: Loving God by Loving Others
The Enthusiast: Loving God with Mystery and Celebration
The Contemplative: Loving God through Adoration
The Intellectual: Loving God with the Mind

Describing each pathway, he gives examples from everyday life, and identifies notable characters from Scripture (including Jesus!) who seem to relate to God in that way:

Abraham built altars
Elijah and Moses were confrontational activists
David demonstrated an enthusiastic, celebratory style of worship
Solomon built a beautiful temple and offered lavish sacrifices
Ezekiel and John describe loud, colorful images of God
Mordecai realized his calling by caring for orphaned Esther
Martha served
Mary adored
John the Baptist gives a glimpse of the ascetic lifestyle

Thomas then identifies each category's inherent risk for abuse and issues a warning. He wraps up each section with a 6-question assessment designed to help readers evaluate their natural tendencies on a scale of 1 to 5. We are encouraged to consider this profile in the aggregate and construct a comprehensive plan for spiritual growth by:

embracing our dominant pathways
not neglecting opportunities to develop our weaker ones
practicing non-judgmental tolerance of those whose temperaments may be vastly different from our own.

[I am almost convinced that many "worship wars" over the years could have been avoided if churches and their leaders had read this book!]

Weakness (actually this may be a strong point!): For packing in such a wealth of wisdom, this book is remarkably short at 271 pages. Some readers will be tempted to put on their "Now-WAIT-just-a-minute!" hats and begin picking apart some of the broader statements and descriptions. My advice: treat this book like a Reader's Digest Condensed Version, or like the Index to a set of encyclopedias. Rather than an exhaustive treatment of the subject, think of it as "a good introduction." (In other words, read it for what it does say, not for what it doesn't.)

Eternally Grateful - Jill McDonald

2009-11-23T16:12:00.002-06:00

ETERNALLY Grateful

This Thanksgiving, I have so much to be thankful for...thankful for my loving husband, wonderful family, caring friends, our health, our safety, happiness, and love. Thankful for my husband’s and younger sister's new jobs, my twin sister's blessing of a child, my grandfather's successful surgery; the list could go on and on. God has been so good and blessed my family so much this year.

And yet, as hard as it is to write this, my greatest moment of thanksgiving came at the greatest tragedy of the year. As I stood in a small country cemetery with tears streaming down my face after a horrible accident and a life ended too soon, I realized that even with all the earthly blessings I have received this year, the GREATEST blessing was the reassurance, the eternal Heavenly reassurance, I knew in my heart beside his grave. JESUS DIED for him and for me and for ALL of us! We are God's children and we, by the grace of God and by Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, are saved. Saved!!! Words cannot even express how THANKFUL I am for such a sacrifice and a blessing! Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die." (John 11:25-26) Hallelujah! Though the pain, sadness, and loneliness are still so difficult to bear, we have such amazing comfort, strength, and peace because of what Jesus did for us. We know that we were "buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." (Romans 6:4) We know that "the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23) We know that "God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him...and so we will be with the Lord FOREVER." (1 Thessalonians 4:14,17b) Forever! Forever together with all our loved ones praising, rejoicing, and worshipping God our Father and Lord! Hallelujah!!! Thank You, Lord Jesus! You truly are our Savior, Redeemer, Comforter, and life-GIVING King! I am ETERNALLY GRATEFUL!!!

New Beginnings (Gail Matthews)

2009-08-26T10:52:00.004-05:00

School has begun! As a teacher, I always loved the beginning of school. Everything was so “in order”! My supplies were new and fresh and clean. My classroom was straight. My gradebook was in alphabetical order with no whiteouts. It provided quite a contrast to that last day of school at the end of May! But the beginning was (and is!) a time of new beginnings, fresh starts. I feel those emotions and that energy and excitement every September. In fact, I keep buying new pencils and pens in September!

In addition to my supplies being new and fresh, my determination was as well – the determination, the will, to do the best job I possibly could do. The list of my own, personal “I wills” included things such as: “I will” treat each of these young men and women with respect. “I will” stay current on grading papers so I can give timely correction. “I will” praise and commend more often than I critique and correct. Etc. Did I succeed 100%? Of course not! But the awareness, the desire, the “will” was there.

September is here. I still use it as a time to reflect on the “I wills” in my life. What are the things that I determine to focus upon as this time of new beginnings is here - the things that I determine to do, to be? Will you join me? Perhaps your determination, your "I wills" need to be refreshed. I know that mine do quite often. Life has a way of beating us down into survival mode. We have to fight that way of living and continually remember and re-determine.

For a devotional reading today, look to Psalm 63. Read it with your eyes looking for the “I wills” from David. What determination from this man of God. I loved listing his “I wills” from this Psalm. The following things really are a decision of the “will” …

Will you join me in determining to commit to these “I wills”? After all ... September is here!

1. I will seek You
2. I will glorify You
3. I will lift up my hands in Your Name
4. I will be satisfied
5. I will praise You with singing
6. I will remember You on my bed
7. I will think of You
8. I will sing in the shadow of Your wing
9. I will cling to You
10. I will rejoice in my God

The best “Top Ten” list I can imagine …

Observations from Jeremiah (Ruby Murphy)

2009-08-11T15:18:00.002-05:00

(Note: Ruby's private study has been in the book of Jeremiah and what follows are some of her observations. You may want to read these first four chapters as you contemplate Ruby's thoughts.)

Every time I pick up my bible, I go back and reread these chapters. I'm not sure why, but I feel it's what I need to do. Just a couple of observations from my reading. Based on the imagery here, and the way God talks to the Israelites, He doesn't just feel betrayed, He feels violated, dirty, raped even. By using the husband/wife trust, and also the comparison to a prostitute you can really feel His hurt and anger at what they have done to Him. And He is appalled at the fact that they don't even hang their head in shame, but have the "brazen look of a prostitute" (chapter 3, verse 3).

And yet, when things go wrong who is the 1st one they call on? Isn't that just like us today? Do what we want, and then ask God to rescue us from the problems we tend to create? My prayer lately has been to not be like that.

I want to walk in His light, no matter what the circumstance of the moment is.

And last, in chapter 3, verse 9 God talks about faithless Israel and Juday. He seems to be more upset with Judah because she didn't return to Him in her heart, just in pretense. To me, that shows God is more concerned with my heart (read that as "true motivations") than anything else. This has made me pray for a true heart.

Eventually I will make it past chapter 4, but god is keeping me there for a reason, I am sure!

Prayer: Lord, help me be the kind of woman who listens to Your voice first - then responds. I desire a heart that is true to You ... always.

"Perfection" (Danielle DeCarlo)

2009-08-10T15:23:00.003-05:00

I prayed for a healthy baby when I was pregnant. Don't we all? I didn't know what the sex of the baby would be, but I wanted him to be healthy. I struggled a bit with how God answered my prayer: Was it yes or no? Really, Justin is amazingly healthy for having DS (Downs Syndrome). Even before heart surgery there was little outward evidence of a problem. And he did not have any ear infections his first year. But is he healthy? I have been learning some of Justin's idiosyncrasies and I think it is a reasonable assumption that nothing in Justin's body works exactly the way it should. But God allows for amazing adaptation and compensation. And we are learning together. I am so thankful that God has surrounded us with many brilliant people who have helped us brainstorm ideas and work through problems.

When I was in college I read a book called A Severe Mercy by Sheldon Van Auken. It is the autobiographical story of Sheldon and his wife, Davy and their friendship with C. S. Lewis. Lewis wrote, "One way or another, the thing (romantic love) had to die. Perpetual springtime is not allowed. You were not cutting the wood of life according to the grain. There are various possible ways in which it could have died though both the parties went on living. You have been treated with a severe mercy. You have been brought to see ... that you were jealous of God." I some ways I consider Justin my severe mercy. Since birth I have been awed by the ways that God works. I allowed myself to be stagnant and satisfied and that was not what God wanted for me. I was blind to his call. I have been amazed by God's character. God reaches out to me through Justin and I want to reach back.

One think that I can definitely say is that I long for heaven in a new way. I have been content on earth. It is familiar and mostly pleasant. But having my world turned over and then experiencing the awesome power and comfort of God has made me much bolder to ask, "Lord, please come quickly!" Knowing God and trusting Him makes heaven so much sweeter and better than the shadows we know on earth. And heaven promised healing. I think that the same way God said, "It is good" when he made me or Travis, He said when He made Justin. He is God's perfect earthly Justin. HE is perfectly formed to be and do the tasks that God has planned for him on this earth. Without DS, it wouldn't be right. But heaven, it's completely different. I wonder what that will look like, but I know without a doubt that it will be even better. And so there is my answer, not yes, not no, but later. That is perfection.

Father's Love (Kathrese McKee)

2009-06-18T22:11:00.004-05:00

Father’s Love

Kathrese McKee

“But I loved her first and I held her first
And a place in my heart will always be hers
From the first breath she breathed
When she first smiled at me
I knew the love of a father runs deep
And I prayed that she’d find you someday
But it’s still hard to give her away
I loved her first”

So goes the chorus of “I Loved Her First” by the country music group, Heartland. This is a father’s song, the words directed to his daughter’s bridegroom, reminding the young man of just how much and how long the father has loved his precious daughter.

As I drove down the road, listening to my radio, the thought occurred to me that even before the girl’s father held her, even before she breathed her first breath, Abba Father held her and loved her and wanted the best for her.

Abba Father knows how hard it is to “give her away” to another, a priceless treasure to be redeemed at countless cost. Today, if you battle with issues of self-esteem and feelings of low worth, remember – Abba Father loves you first, last, and always.

“Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you even at my mother’s breast. From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God.”

Psalm 22:9-10 (NIV)

Hide and Seek (Sherry Casella)

2009-06-09T13:47:00.005-05:00

"Granny? Where are you?"

When I was small my parents both worked, so I stayed with Granny. Granny didn't drive -- didn't even have a license. If she went anywhere she walked or rode with someone else, so when I came to her house, she was always there. She'd step out on the porch, drying her hands on her apron and waving at me with a smile that lit up all of Dallas County. Granny had the unique gift of making me feel as though she'd been waiting to see just me all day, and now her day was complete.

So where was she now? I was dimly aware that she'd been at the sink, but how long ago was that? "Granny?" No answer. Panic rising in my 3-year-old voice, I called again, louder and more urgently. This wasn't a game! And if it was… well, wouldn't she have told me first?
"Granny!"

And Granny would crow from the next room, or the garden, or the clothesline, where she was ironing, picking something to cook for dinner, or hanging out clothes washed in the sink. I never learned to duplicate that answering crow, but I did develop an ability to hear it and locate her from quite a distance.

* * * * *

MeMaw, my other grandmother, worked full time, but every Friday she and PePaw would meet us somewhere and we would go out to eat for dinner… and sometimes I got to spend the night afterward. When I did, the weekend would be filled with fun "girly" things like playing beauty shop and painting toenails.

One day the security of my little world was jolted when, during her absence, we went by to check on some housekeeping detail. Mom pulled the key from the door, and I still remember running the length of the kitchen in joyful anticipation, calling "MeMaw! MeMaw!" But the house was still and silent.

Where was she? This was her house. She was supposed to be here! She had always been here before... Maybe she was in the bathroom, or the back yard? No, they were on vacation for a week, Mom explained. Remember? I vaguely remembered hearing that, but I'd been at home -- on my turf, not hers. Now I was where she was supposed to be, and she wasn't there.
The silence was deafening.

* * * * *

Three summers ago we took Jessica to college. And no, I didn't cry -- not right then. She’d gone to Junior Scholars the previous summer, so the drill was already familiar: carry bags and boxes upstairs… hook up a phone in her dorm room… give her wads of cash for no apparent reason. After Junior Scholars she’d spent a few days with relatives, waiting for us to return from a mission trip to Ukraine.

This time, though, it was different. Instead of crossing the ocean and skipping through Eastern Europe, we came home to the house she grew up in. To walls that have echoed and re-echoed strains of Bach and Beethoven… Tillit S. Teddlie and Tony Lewis… Walt Disney and Broadway. With three kids at home, the house still seemed empty.

Years ago, Jessica developed a game. Going about her business, she would sing a line from a song over and over (often because that was the only line she knew!). Eventually, tired of the broken record effect, I would chime in with the next phrase. A triumphant smile would spread across her face. "Gotcha!"

Soon this game evolved to include Shakespeare, C. S. Lewis, Bible verses, famous documents and movie quotes. Unfortunately, she hadn’t trained her siblings to carry on the tradition. After about 2 weeks I couldn't stand it any more.

Enter AOL Instant Messenger, and Cingular Wireless’ family plan. Free minutes. Easily accessible. She was as near as my next breath. And because it wasn’t a “land line,” the response was guaranteed.

"A hand for each hand was made for the world. Why don't my fingers reach?"
"Millions of grains of sand in the world, why such a lonely beach?"
"Where is a voice to answer mine back?"
"Where are two shoes that click to my clack?"
~*~*~

"Let me not to the marriage of true minds admit impediments."
"Love is not love Which alters when it alteration finds, Or bends with the remover to remove:"
"O no! it is an ever-fixéd mark That looks on tempests and is never shaken…"
~*~*~
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life..."
"Neither angels nor demons..."
"Neither the present nor the future..."
"Nor any powers..."
"Neither height nor depth..."
"Nor anything else in all creation..."
"Will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

"Call to Me and I will answer you," God says in Jeremiah 33:3. He's never on vacation. He’s as near as your next breath. The minutes are free. The call is easy. He's been waiting to see just you all day.

And the response? Guaranteed!

The Turtle and the Dove (Andrea Garrison)

2009-06-09T13:26:00.003-05:00

I love animals, well most animals - anything that slithers or is green does not count. My house backs up to a creek and there is a wonderful hiking trail along the creek that I walk on a regular basis. I see all kinds of critters as I walk. Part of my journey takes me down a street that ends in a cul-de-sac. The homes along this street are grand and they all back up to a lake. One day as I was walking I saw a big turtle in the middle of the street; his shell was the size of a dinner plate. I said to him, okay you are probably wondering how I know it is a make turtle, well here is why I was 100% certain:

A. He was in the middle of the street meaning ...
B. He was lost ...
C. He hadn't asked for directions

Anyway, I said to him, "Mr. Turtle, you are going to get run over." He immediately drew himself into his shell. Obviously, I had humiliated him and embarrassed him. I picked him up, sat him in one of the yards (pointed towards the lake of course) and went on my way. As I rounded the cul-de-sac and came back to where I had placed him, he hadn't moved and he was just starting to peek out to see if all was safe.

A few days later I was walking the cul-de-sac and I noticed a beautiful little dove. As I got closer she didn't fly away, she just walked away from me. Okay, you are probably wondering how I know she is a female. Here is how I know:
A. She didn't seem lost
B. She looked more like she was "window" shopping - probably for a light lunch or something ...
C. She was calm
D. She was out in public and she looked good!

Each time I got a little closer to her she would just walk away, always staying a little ahead of me. I squatted down for a closer look and we stared at each other for a moment (yes, I did have grand illusions or maybe they were delusions, of being a Disney princess and all the cute little animals and birds would come flocking to me). I thought about trying to pick her up and move her out of the street but she didn't seem to need rescuing like Mr. Turtle. I truly think she would have let me pick her up but something compelled me not to. The next day as I rounded the cul-de-sac she was there. I know it was the same little dove because as I approached she just walked away ... I wondered if she had been out of the street at all during the previous night so I decided today I would pick her up and move her into the grass. Just as I reached for her she stepped slightly away from me, spread her wings and flew away.

I started to think about the differences in Mr. Turtle and Miss Dove and how their reactions to me compared to my walk of faith. Was I a Mr. Turtle? Did I, when the opportunity came to help someone in need draw into my shell? When the opportunity arises to share the good news of salvation, do I retreat into my shell and wait until I feel it is safe to come out? Do I stay "secure" in my shell? Am I intimidated when it comes to stepping out of my comfort zone in the name of God?

Or ... am I like Miss Dove? Do I walk among the lost and share a calming thought of Jesus' love? Do I spread my wings and fly to share the news of salvation and God's unfailing love? Do I stand my ground, unafraid and strong in God's grace? Do I overcome my fear and boldly speak of what God can and will do for all of us?

What are you? Are you a Mr. Turtle or are you a Miss Dove? I have decided that I do not want to retreat, I want to fly! I want to soar to new heights and I want to share the victories and blessings God has given me. I don't want to live my life in a shell. I want praise God in good times, have His comfort during the bad times and trust Him in all times. The choice is yours ... retreat or fly!

Welcome to Through My Eyes

2009-04-22T15:50:00.004-05:00

Welcome to the "Through My Eyes" blogspot. The purpose of this site is three-fold:

1. We want to hear from one another about the things that God is teaching us throughout our varying circumstances and situations.
2. We want to prasie God for the way He is molding and shaping us.
3. We want to help each other through personal experience as we journey along our life's path.

There will be a variety of writers contributing ... all part of the Sisters in Service Women's Ministry at the Bammel Church of Christ. They consist of different generations, different life circumstances, and representing different journeys. Each post will be identified by its author ... so you can find writings by their authors as an archive list begins to grow.

So ... check in often ... let's learn from each other as we all strive to grow toward maturity in Christ Jesus our Lord.