The Notable Blogger

Archive for the ‘The Christian Walk’ Category

Life is a harsh teacher. There is no grace period for late papers, no test re-take policy, and very little recess. After about sixth grade, there isn’t even a milk break. The whole life process itself is a learning experience, training and developing each participant into the person he or she is today, preparing for the person he will be tomorrow. The failures, the hurdles, the stumbles in life all have a hand. They all serve a purpose. They are all part of the lesson.

I’ve had some pretty notable life lessons over the past few months. It occurred to me not too long ago, while inspecting the multi-colored underside of my upper cabinets, that there is a reason a blender comes with a lid. Note to self: use it. I’ve also learned and relearned that it is not wise to say “yes” to a small child unless you are absolutely sure what he is asking…and even then it may be unwise. I’ve also learned a lot about making assumptions. One stands out. It is not wise to assume that the window in the nursing mothers’ room at the church you are visiting is one-way glass. Major oops.

Of all the lessons I’ve learned, the greatest, yet most difficult, is trust. I know the lessons well:

Trust the Creator with your life on earth and your life in glory through faith in Christ. Trust Him with the small details and the big decisions. Trust His will. Don’t make trust only an issue of the head, but a hope of the heart and an action of the body. Don’t just say, for example, that you trust God to care for you in the economic crisis; believe it by still giving out of your lack. Don’t just say, for example, that you trust God to work beauty into your marriage; believe it by handing the reins to Him through prayer rather than giving your tongue free rein. Don’t just say, for example, that you trust God with your family size; believe it by relinquishing control. Trust.

I am not good at trusting. I am a failure, in fact. Worse than that, I talk the talk and stumble through the process of putting one foot in front of the other. Anxiety becomes my god and I leave the Father of Trust with His arms held out to me, longing to gather me in. I leave Him for the idol throne of fear where I am annointed with guilt and despair.

Over and over He calls me back. My Father.

Come back, my dearling. Stop clinging to fear and cling instead to me. This life was never your problem to begin with, but something meant for you to hand to me. Lift your eyes, child, and look at me.  Stop fighting me.  Stop resisting my peace. Stop. Just…let me…be the God…the Father, I know you need. It is okay, my dearling, to trust me. I am not them. I AM. Trust.

Trust…

Lord, grant it.

It’s time for a confession:

I am a paranoid perfectionist. Yikes. That does not sound pretty. Well, it ain’t! (In fact, the perfectionist in me is having a very difficult time not removing that “ain’t.”)

I am one of those mothers who focuses on getting it right. I lie awake at night regretting words misspoken, time misspent, and attention misdirected. Comparing myself to the “experts” of Christian parenting, I see myself falling short, and soon battle the uphill struggle to catch up, measure up, straighten up, but I just can’t get it right. How will my failings affect my children?

What to do…what to do…?

When medical concerns come up (about every 15 minutes), I bolster my immune system, analyze medical records, dwell, dwell, dwell on every symptom in every family member, and settle into a pattern of anxiety bordering on panic. To whom should I listen? Where should I turn? What should I do?

Whom to trust…whom to trust…?

When financial issues arise, I struggle with my inadequacies. I seek to support and help my husband, but how? Should I step into this arena, head down that avenue, or tap this skill?

Where to turn…where to turn…?

In short, I have an exhausting mental character flaw that makes life a little more murky than it needs to be.

In steps God. Read the rest of this entry »

Whether you call it Easter or Resurrection Day or spring…

Whether you celebrate with eggs or on your knees in gratefulness…

Whether you believe in the divinity of He who fulfilled over 160 Old Testament prophecies or think your own goodness will carry you to heaven…

Whether you celebrate Christ’s resurrection on Sunday or Friday or the second Tuesday of February or not at all…

Whether you tremble in fear over your sins or shed tears of grateful joy over your forgiveness…

Whether you deny the existence of a universal truth or cling firmly to the simple message of an unchanging Gospel…

The fact remains, and the fact is this:

Jesus lives.

Jesus saves.

The message is simple. The gift is free. The way is Christ.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.
~John 3:16 (the Gospel in a nutshell)

While Modest Fashion Week has ended, please visit The Stay-at-Home Missionary and read about modesty, the whys and the how-tos. If you have an aversion to the term “modest dress” because you think you will be wearing flour sacks and sneakers, you will be pleased with what you read.

If you have daughters, invite them to join you, or print out the week’s messages. This is a huge issue among today’s Christians, and it is a blessing to see it addressed well!

Happy dressing!

Perhaps it is because I am attempting to raise five godly young women in an age of ungodliness. Perhaps it is because we struggle to appropriately dress our children modestly in a world of immodesty. Perhaps it is because my children see more skin in church than during the rest of the week. Whatever the reason, I have long been driven to write on the subject of modesty, or, rather the lack thereof, among Christian women (and men!).

Many have written on the subject of how Christians should dress. It has become a hot and legalistic topic. Blessed or cursed with quick guilt, I often find myself falling prey to the legalistic side of the issue, thus discounting the power Christ’s grace has over my life. At one point I began dressing according to how I felt other Christians expected me to dress, rather than how I was moved in my heart to dress out of gratefulness to God, obedience to my husband, and appreciation of the body the Creator gave me.

I am generally not long in the deadly talons of legalism before my husband frees me with the simple message of the power of grace.

He’s the source of my hope and rest,
Fount of all my relief;
Though I live with this thorn in my flesh,
He has given Grace beyond my need.

Grace beyond my need. As Christians we live under the grace of Christ. We have freedom under that grace to live out our love for Him. How do we then live? The Christian grace and love in our hearts should overflow not only into our words and actions, but also into our appearance. Read the rest of this entry »

Have you ever dared to venture to the store on Valentine’s Day? It’s very amusing and pathetically sad at the same time. Valentine’s Day is one day when the men vastly outnumber the women in the store. Almost every one of these men is trying to find something, anything that is red, heart-shaped, cuddly or sweet to give to the woman in his life to appease her until next Valentine’s Day. Most of them look confused, some resigned, others annoyed. Why are they there? Because society tells them they have to show their love on this day above all others. It’s pitiful actually. (Never mind that my own dear husband is at the store right now! He’s buying a router…and not in the shape of a heart.)

I remember from years ago in my waitressing days a threat made by the restaurant owner’s twenty-something daughter. She fumed that her “significant other” better make a good showing at Valentine’s Day or it was over…again. I asked her what she had in mind, not particularly wanting to know the answer, but not having an escape route at the time. (Life lesson, always have an escape route!) She showed me the catalog she had been carrying around with her all week. She pointed an adamant finger (can fingers be adamant? I think so!) at a rather garish piece of jewelry with a shocking price tag of $349. The poor man. I hope he ran while he still could.

My husband and I wear silver bands on the ring fingers of our left hands. We purchased them together at a small jewelry stand at a Renaissance Fair in Illinois. We never can come to a consensus on what they actually cost. I say $30 for the set. He says $20. At the time, it was a lot of money for us. We have in the past discussed getting gold rings with diamonds and other frills, but then we laugh, rub our rings on our jeans a bit to shine them up, and go on living. Read the rest of this entry »

Years ago I told my then newlywed husband that I would follow him anywhere except the desert. While some people love the desert and others think–say it with me–”it’s a nice place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live there,” I did not even want to visit. I did not want so much as to see it on television. I’d been there a few times and had enough!

The Lord tested my loyalty. Apparently, I passed the test, because we moved to the desert three years into our marriage, and we have been here ever since. Read the rest of this entry »