Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Ode to the Supermarket and the man with the magazine!

So, there I was on isle seven, and all of the sudden I realized it...I had not brushed my teeth! Oh no, I thought to myself, as I began to hold my breath as people pushed by me. And, then, it happened once again. Oh no, I forgot to put deodorant on. How swiftly people were walking by me now. Do I smell that bad? Can they smell me at all? I know all of these things were just my vain imaginings, and no one really could tell that I was so unkempt. But, I knew.

As I was making my way around the supermarket, my mind ever fixed on hygiene, I noticed a man walking into the bathroom with a store copy of a magazine. One that he would probably put back, and one that you or I have probably picked up before. GROSS! I suddenly had a feeling overtaking me, EWWW! I kept replaying this picture in my mind. Flee, I told myself. Run away, far far away!!!

So, as I continued to pass over each isle, I realized something that brightened my grocery task! First, let me preface by sharing that I have been diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. This basically means that my hormones are out of whack. I am trying to regulate my hormones naturally, thus pruning every yummy food out of my diet. Let me break this down for all you high fructose corn syrup lovers (which I am one of)... I can't have any prepackaged or canned foods, which basically covers 80% of the store. Although, my new eating habits have been hard to grasp and a mountain to get over. I realized in that moment of passing isle after isle, goodness after sweet yummy goodness, that my life had gotten a little simpler. Yes, this is true. Other than the occasional snack grab, I am blessed to have to pass over isle after isle after isle!
My supermarket route usually starts in the dairy section, continues with the meat, and ends at the produce! No more getting lost in between! So here's to you, PCOS, oh how simple you make life!

Then, after about thirty minutes and much cell phone deliberation between my whole family about where a certain hot sauce was, we realized the certain type we were looking for was in Louisiana. Not in the supermarket isle 9 where I had been looking for the past half hour!

So, there I am. I find myself at the check out counter, finally. My mom recently sent me $100 gift card in the mail. It was neat to find out that my bill was $101.22 But, this meant that I needed to write a check for $1.22 I just handed the cashier the check and let them type its amount. So, the guy hands me back the check. I reach for it. He has a firm grip on it. So, I reach for it again. After a few minutes of playing this game, he said, "I am showing you how much the check is for." SO, then, I said, "Ok" And reached for it again. And, thus, once again, the game began. "What the heck is going on," I thought to myself. He then, so patiently explained, after he ripped the check out from my hands, "no, I am just showing you the amount." Not that he ever told me that he was keeping the check, but I realized once he snagged it from me and put it away, what he was trying to say.

My conclusion is this... Supermarketing is a task, one that reveals sin, and one that is in need of grace!! So, as you go on your way, know this my dear friends... "For He was pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities, the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all like sheep have gone astray. Each of us has turned to his own way, and The Lord has placed on Him the iniquity of us all."




Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Being wise at home

So, this morning as I sat on the floor with papers scattered about trying to file our life into categories; electric bills, pay check stubs, doctor bills and so on, I found myself stuck in an abyss of TV. I normally don't watch TV during the day, other than the occasional lunch time "What not to Wear". Today, though, I decided to indulge myself while I was filing papers, as if it counteracted the indulgence somehow.

So, my conclusion from today: TV= the world wrapped up in a box. If you want a big dose of the world, just find your remote, turn it on and watch!

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying to throw away your TV. I will still watch it, and one of my husband and my favorite things to do is watch a good show together!

I am asking you to reevaluate this; Are you building your house or tearing it down? Proverbs 14:1 says, "The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her hands tears it down."

What kind of house are you building? One of serving, love, humility...? Or one of self indulgence, self-pity, anger... The things we allow to pour into our minds will either build or tear down. There is nothing in the middle, nothing that is neutral!

I don't think God calls us to be so legalistic or condemned, but I do think this is something to question, something to think about, and, also an opportunity to practice grace when we fall short. An opportunity for the gospel!! For in the gospel we see ourselves there amongst the world, living foolishly disobedient lives. But, God in his mercy saved us, called us blameless! God says, "Not that you chose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you may Go!" God chose me while I was still an enemy of him! Now, I am called to take this gospel to the foolish and disobedient world!


Sunday, April 18, 2010

#1 from Femininity Conference

Girl Time!!!!! That is right! This weekend, women gathered from all around to here an excellent author/speaker, Carolyn McCulley! What a treat for us women, and I want you to be able to indulge as well! This week, I want to share a few truths that were so encouraging for me this weekend!

So, here goes #1:

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that He exists, and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."

That is a familiar scripture memory verse right? Well, I must admit that although I knew that verse, I don't think I truly understood the last phrase until she explained it. She said, "Do you really believe that God will reward you?"

Now, let me clarify, for all you skeptical women out there. I don't think she was intending, nor do I think the verse is saying that God will reward us with whatever we desire, and it is not saying that these rewards are self indulgent adding to our thrills in life.

I do, however, think that this reward God is speaking of is the reward that he will fulfill his promises, that he will act as he said he would. "God is not man that he should lie, nor son of man that he should change his mind. Does he speak and not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?" How I apply this is simple... In those moments where David and I are in conflict, and I think that by nagging him, he will learn his lesson or I will get my way, this is by no means biblical and by no means will it produce the fruit that I desire.

If, however, I am quiet and gentle with him, with all submissiveness, having hope in God, obeying God, my obedience (given from God) will produce fruit. God will act on my behalf. Not that I will receive what I want, but God will reward me, he will produce in me or David the character that reflects his glory!

So, maybe I could break it down by saying that God rewards a heart of obedience with a fruitful life! God will reward me.

Here is another example: David decided to tell his administration that he did not want to coach next year. He felt God leading him in that decision due to the lack of time for family he had while coaching. So, David stepped out in faith. He was not rehired, due to this choice, but, we have hope that God will reward his decision. God promises he will provide! We believe God and who he says he is! He will provide for us! He is Sovereign.

"...according to the plan of Him who works out EVERYTHING in conformity to the purpose of HIS will!" Eph 1:11