It's Memorial Day and there is a "M*A*S*H" Marathon on television. I like this show, partially because it is funny, and partially because it doesn't make light of war. It shows how it is dirty and unpleasant and cruel. The people in the show are funny, but the situation never is.
As I watch this beloved program, I am reminded of so many of my family and friends who have in the past or are now serving in the Armed Forces. Several of my family members and friends have fought in war. I have friends who are serving now around the world. Some are back home, but still serving here in the States. We take this time every year to remember those we have lost, but also to thank those who have given of themselves. And not just the ones who are in fatigues, but also their families who wait for them at home. I would imagine that waiting at home, can be just as hard as serving at times. And many children grow up while their parent is away defending our Country. We owe these men and women and their families a huge debt of gratitude.
So, to those who have are are currently serving in the Armed Forces:
Thank you for being willing to be away from your families to defend us. Thank you for volunteering to put yourself in harms way to keep us free. Thank you for your courage and your hard work. Thank you for going to places that we wouldn't want to go, in conditions that no one would want to be in, so that we could stay free.
To the families of those to serve:
Thank you for supporting your military family member. Thank you for keeping the home fires burning while they are away. Thank you for diligently raising children alone, while your loved one serves. Thank you for your courage and your bravery on the home front because we know what you do is not easy either.
Thank you all.
Monday, May 27, 2013
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Be Joyful Always???
As much as we wouldn't like it to, bad stuff happens sometimes. Those days are hard. There is no one who would tell us that they are not tough. When someone starts talking behind your back, that hurts. When that job you really wanted falls through, that is disappointing. When we lose someone we love, that is painful. The weather gets rough, the world gets cruel, people we love get sick or hurt, and just bad stuff happens.
But we are not defined by what happens to us...we are defined by how we react to what happens to us. When we are under pressure, what is really in our hearts will spill out...for good, or for bad. Anyone can be happy when life is going well. But choosing to be joyful when life is spinning out of control...that is a bit harder, but it can be done...and it should be done. Notice that I didn't say that we have to choose to be happy. I said, we can choose to be joyful. Happiness is an emotion. We are going to feel the way we feel. Sometimes it will be happy, sometimes it will be sad, sometimes it will be angry and sometimes it will even be numb. But to be joyful, is to literally be "full of joy" and that is a choice we can make regardless of our circumstances.
I Thessalonians 5:16-18
"16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." (NIV)
I love those verses and I try to live my life that way. I don't have to enjoy the circumstances of my day in order to find a way to rejoice. I suppose I'm a bit like Pollyanna playing the "glad game" in that respect. There is always something to be thankful for even in the midst of life's most challenging times. But we have to be willing to look for the good in every situation. Not everyone is willing to do that, but if you are, you would be amazed at the things you can see and the ways God works even through those difficult times. And the more we look for the good in every situation, the more things we will find to be joyful about.
Living this way, takes practice. But we serve an amazing God, who finds ways to show His love for us every day...no matter what we feel. He is there and He loves us...and that alone should be enough to make us joyful.
Watch carefully...what will God show you that you can be joyful about today?
But we are not defined by what happens to us...we are defined by how we react to what happens to us. When we are under pressure, what is really in our hearts will spill out...for good, or for bad. Anyone can be happy when life is going well. But choosing to be joyful when life is spinning out of control...that is a bit harder, but it can be done...and it should be done. Notice that I didn't say that we have to choose to be happy. I said, we can choose to be joyful. Happiness is an emotion. We are going to feel the way we feel. Sometimes it will be happy, sometimes it will be sad, sometimes it will be angry and sometimes it will even be numb. But to be joyful, is to literally be "full of joy" and that is a choice we can make regardless of our circumstances.
I Thessalonians 5:16-18
"16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." (NIV)
I love those verses and I try to live my life that way. I don't have to enjoy the circumstances of my day in order to find a way to rejoice. I suppose I'm a bit like Pollyanna playing the "glad game" in that respect. There is always something to be thankful for even in the midst of life's most challenging times. But we have to be willing to look for the good in every situation. Not everyone is willing to do that, but if you are, you would be amazed at the things you can see and the ways God works even through those difficult times. And the more we look for the good in every situation, the more things we will find to be joyful about.
Living this way, takes practice. But we serve an amazing God, who finds ways to show His love for us every day...no matter what we feel. He is there and He loves us...and that alone should be enough to make us joyful.
Watch carefully...what will God show you that you can be joyful about today?
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Gardening 101
Well, Spring seems to have officially come to Indiana. Those who know me well, would tell you that I'm lamenting the fact that there will be no more snow and they would be correct. However, I do enjoy the Spring some as well. I like seeing the world come alive with color once again. Today as I was driving to the post office, and I saw a tree all in bloom with pink flowers of some sort and I was reminded of the beauty that will be coming our way shortly.
My Mom is a gardener. She is constantly playing in the dirt once the weather gets warm. Personally, I try to stay away from dirt because it usually contains bugs and I am not at all a fan of bugs. But Mom gets out there and digs away. She pulls at weeds, plants things, and is constantly watering something or other. Then, before you know it, cool little things start growing in all those places where she'd been digging and pulling and watering.
Our relationship with the Lord is a bit like gardening. It takes work for it to grow. Our time in prayer, Scripture reading, and in fellowship with other believers, are the way we tend to our spiritual garden. When we ignore those things, weeds can start to creep into our lives. We might not notice them at first. After all, not all weeds are ugly. Some can even look kind of pretty...but they are still weeds. And weeds take away from the beauty of the flowers that they infiltrate. If we catch them when they are small, then usually they are easily removed, but if they are left to grow, those weeds will totally take over the flowerbed and you won't even notice the flowers anymore.
How is your spiritual garden growing? Have you been tending it or has it been overtaken by weeds? If the weeds are thick, worry not. It may take some effort on your part, but God will help you remove them. After all, God made you to be a beautiful example of His love. Don't get let those weeds hide all the beauty He has created.
My Mom is a gardener. She is constantly playing in the dirt once the weather gets warm. Personally, I try to stay away from dirt because it usually contains bugs and I am not at all a fan of bugs. But Mom gets out there and digs away. She pulls at weeds, plants things, and is constantly watering something or other. Then, before you know it, cool little things start growing in all those places where she'd been digging and pulling and watering.
Our relationship with the Lord is a bit like gardening. It takes work for it to grow. Our time in prayer, Scripture reading, and in fellowship with other believers, are the way we tend to our spiritual garden. When we ignore those things, weeds can start to creep into our lives. We might not notice them at first. After all, not all weeds are ugly. Some can even look kind of pretty...but they are still weeds. And weeds take away from the beauty of the flowers that they infiltrate. If we catch them when they are small, then usually they are easily removed, but if they are left to grow, those weeds will totally take over the flowerbed and you won't even notice the flowers anymore.
How is your spiritual garden growing? Have you been tending it or has it been overtaken by weeds? If the weeds are thick, worry not. It may take some effort on your part, but God will help you remove them. After all, God made you to be a beautiful example of His love. Don't get let those weeds hide all the beauty He has created.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Just the SPARK I needed...
Every have one of those times where you feel like you have reached the end of your creative rope? I have been working with Children for more than 10 years and I love it, but every now and then, I hit a wall creatively. I simply can not think of new ideas and even simple tasks (like telling a Bible Story) become difficult. It is at those times that I need to recharge my creative batteries.
Enter an amazing conference for children's workers called SPARK. It is just exactly what I needed. This inexpensive conference takes place in Marion, IN at the Shiloh Park Campground and it is for all the Children's Pastors, Children's Directors, and Children's Workers all across the state of Indiana. We get together on Thursday night and have a costume themed dinner. Great food, fun games and awesome prizes. On Friday and Saturday we have more than 20 workshops to choose from covering all types are children's ministry. From using Social Media to planning a Preschool Worship service you can find a workshop that fits your needs. Plus in between all the awesome workshops, great food (seriously...you will not walk away hungry), fun prizes and a wonderful prayer room, we have the chance to just hang out and chat with old friends, meet new ones, share each others burdens and encourage each other's ministries. And if all that wasn't enough, we were able to be a part of two wonderful worship services with Rev. Carla Sunberg as the speaker. What a blessing that was. |
| Ready for the costume contest |
When I and three ladies from my church arrived at SPARK, I was depleted in many ways. But when I left, I was refreshed and excited to get back to work and see what God would do through our Children's Ministry. We have already started planning our costumes for next year and talking about who we could take with us.
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| Sharon, Mary, and Darian. These fabulous ladies came with me this year. |
A huge THANK YOU to Trey Brooks and his committee for putting this on each year. You guys do an amazing job and I want you to know that we appreciate all the hard work you put into this spectacular event.
If you live in Indiana, work with children at your church, and you haven't been to SPARK yet...well, mark it on your calendar for next year. March 6-8th, 2014. The cost is only $70 per person and includes the workshops, lodging, and meals. Talk to your pastor or you District Children's Director for more information. Hope to see you there next year!
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Spending Time with "The Waltons"
Anyone that knows me well, could tell you that I'm a fan of classic television shows. Seriously...they just don't make them like they used to. Those shows where you could sit down and enjoy some TV time as a family without someone swearing a blue streak or watch a sitcom and it was...you know..funny.
As of late, I've been watching DVD's of "The Waltons." I'm very proud to say that I finally own the entire series on DVD...including the TV Movies. Every time I watch an episode, I'm struck by a few things.
First it is the love of the family. Not only do all of the Waltons love each other, but they love all those who are a part of their world. If you are a neighbor, you are family. If you are a stranger, you are welcomed as family. Everyone gets along because everyone helps each other. Now I realize that this is all a scripted television show, but I also know that we, as a country, used to be much more like that than we are now. We used to take more time to just be with our family. We were not running from one ball game to dance practice, to band rehearsals or whatever else fills our days currently. Most people I know are so busy anymore that they hardly can catch their breath. When did that happen? Why did we let it happen? What do we have to do to change it?
Second, they appreciate nature. I must admit, that while I love to look at nature, I'm not a big one for actually being out in it. I have always noticed that wherever there is nature...there are bugs. And I'm not a fan of bugs. But, when I watch "The Waltons," I love how they adore the nature that surrounds them. And of course, since they are suppose to be in the Blue Ridge Mountains...well, it is bound to be beautiful. Makes me look around my own world a bit more and appreciate the beautiful world that God has given me right where I am.
Lastly, they live simply. There is not a computer to be found in the Walton home. Nor is there a television or a cell phone. They read the paper for news and listen to the radio for more news and also for entertainment. In a world where we have difficulty stepping away from the internet or our cell phones for more than just a few minutes, sometimes I wonder if we are missing out on the world around us. Even though we connected to it electronically, we are often disconnected from what is right in front of us. We know what's happening in Washington, DC, but are we aware what is going on in our local government? We know how our friends are doing across the world, but have we checked in on our neighbors across the street?
Just a little food for thought....at least it has been for me.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Gas Leaks and Fire Trucks and Police...OH MY!
So today started out fairly normal...but that changed pretty quick.
I went to the office and after I was there about an hour, I heard an incredible BOOM! Then is sounded like a 747 was idling right outside my window. I got up and went to look out the window of the youth room and the sound got louder...but I couldn't see anything that was burning or would be making that noise. Then I went out to the side door of our church and when I opened it...well, I have never heard anything so loud in my life. Next to the church there is a very small little building where a gas main is housed (or something very similar) and I could see that something was spewing out the pipe at the top. I realize that gas is invisible, but there was a flame for just a minute as well and even without the flame you could see the gas coming out because it was escaping so fast.
Soon, there were police cars blocking the road, and fire trucks on either end in front of the police. Now here is the thing...I was alone at the church at that particular time. My car was in the garage next door. I walked outside several times (specifically in view of the firemen) hoping that someone would come and tell me what was happening...or if I needed to evacuate. But no one told me anything. Finally after this had gone on for about a half an hour to 45 minutes, I walked out to one of the fire trucks and asked what was happening. He said that there was gas spewing out of the pipe and that while the gas people were there, they were not closing it yet. I asked if I should leave and told him that my car was in the garage next to the church (which was closer to the leak) and he said that I shouldn't open the garage door because it could cause a spark. "Should I leave?" I asked. "Well," he said, "If you see my truck backing up, I'd run like crazy." (Expletive deleted)
So, I went back into the church and went back to my office to collect my things. That part of the church reeked of gas so I figured leaving was a good idea. All the while, my Aunt was telling me (via phone...not in person) to "leave the building...go! Go! Go!" She was quite annoyed that I was humming as I was gathering my things in no huge hurry. I also grabbed a blanket because I had not worn a coat to my office and it was 20 degrees outside. Not really a big deal, but I figured I might need to walk a bit, so I wanted to be safe...so I draped the blanket over my bag and headed out of the church.
I walked down the block past the police and went into a Arby's that was at the end of the block. It wasn't busy (even though it was lunchtime) because hardly anyone could get to it because of the roadblocks. The people working in the Arby's didn't know what was causing the roadblock and though they could hear the gas leak (which no longer sounded like a 747, but more like a semi engine idling) didn't know what the sound was. So if filled them in...and we waited together for the craziness to end. The marvelous folks at Arby's gave me a free lunch as I waited. (They really are wonderful people...if you get the chance, stop in at the North Vernon Arby's)
Finally after the gas had been gushing for more than an hour (possibly closer to two), they got it stopped. Then just as quickly as it had started, all the emergency personnel left and the traffic started to move. Within about 20 minutes, you would never have known there was an issue.
I went back to the church and called a fire chief who gave me the "All clear."
Praise the Lord for His goodness today. This could have been so bad. I saw a flame coming out of that pipe, but it didn't last long...IN A GAS LEAK...it didn't last long. Amazing! There were no explosions and no one got hurt. And as crazy as this day was...I wasn't worried. Even as I was texting and Facebooking updates to friends and family or talking to people on the phone...I was very calm inside. I serve a big God and I knew no matter what...He was in charge. When I should have been frazzled...I wasn't. God is so good.
How appropriate that there is church tonight. :-) "My God is so big, so strong and so mighty! There's nothing my God cannot do!" That song (the GO FISH version) has been running through my head today. Thank you Lord!
I went to the office and after I was there about an hour, I heard an incredible BOOM! Then is sounded like a 747 was idling right outside my window. I got up and went to look out the window of the youth room and the sound got louder...but I couldn't see anything that was burning or would be making that noise. Then I went out to the side door of our church and when I opened it...well, I have never heard anything so loud in my life. Next to the church there is a very small little building where a gas main is housed (or something very similar) and I could see that something was spewing out the pipe at the top. I realize that gas is invisible, but there was a flame for just a minute as well and even without the flame you could see the gas coming out because it was escaping so fast.
Soon, there were police cars blocking the road, and fire trucks on either end in front of the police. Now here is the thing...I was alone at the church at that particular time. My car was in the garage next door. I walked outside several times (specifically in view of the firemen) hoping that someone would come and tell me what was happening...or if I needed to evacuate. But no one told me anything. Finally after this had gone on for about a half an hour to 45 minutes, I walked out to one of the fire trucks and asked what was happening. He said that there was gas spewing out of the pipe and that while the gas people were there, they were not closing it yet. I asked if I should leave and told him that my car was in the garage next to the church (which was closer to the leak) and he said that I shouldn't open the garage door because it could cause a spark. "Should I leave?" I asked. "Well," he said, "If you see my truck backing up, I'd run like crazy." (Expletive deleted)
So, I went back into the church and went back to my office to collect my things. That part of the church reeked of gas so I figured leaving was a good idea. All the while, my Aunt was telling me (via phone...not in person) to "leave the building...go! Go! Go!" She was quite annoyed that I was humming as I was gathering my things in no huge hurry. I also grabbed a blanket because I had not worn a coat to my office and it was 20 degrees outside. Not really a big deal, but I figured I might need to walk a bit, so I wanted to be safe...so I draped the blanket over my bag and headed out of the church.
I walked down the block past the police and went into a Arby's that was at the end of the block. It wasn't busy (even though it was lunchtime) because hardly anyone could get to it because of the roadblocks. The people working in the Arby's didn't know what was causing the roadblock and though they could hear the gas leak (which no longer sounded like a 747, but more like a semi engine idling) didn't know what the sound was. So if filled them in...and we waited together for the craziness to end. The marvelous folks at Arby's gave me a free lunch as I waited. (They really are wonderful people...if you get the chance, stop in at the North Vernon Arby's)
Finally after the gas had been gushing for more than an hour (possibly closer to two), they got it stopped. Then just as quickly as it had started, all the emergency personnel left and the traffic started to move. Within about 20 minutes, you would never have known there was an issue.
I went back to the church and called a fire chief who gave me the "All clear."
Praise the Lord for His goodness today. This could have been so bad. I saw a flame coming out of that pipe, but it didn't last long...IN A GAS LEAK...it didn't last long. Amazing! There were no explosions and no one got hurt. And as crazy as this day was...I wasn't worried. Even as I was texting and Facebooking updates to friends and family or talking to people on the phone...I was very calm inside. I serve a big God and I knew no matter what...He was in charge. When I should have been frazzled...I wasn't. God is so good.
How appropriate that there is church tonight. :-) "My God is so big, so strong and so mighty! There's nothing my God cannot do!" That song (the GO FISH version) has been running through my head today. Thank you Lord!
Thursday, January 3, 2013
The Duties of an Aunt...
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| Alexander Grayson James |
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| Alex imitates Burgess Meredith |
Then, at 1:53 am on January 2nd, he arrived. Alexander showed up and our lives will never be the same.
Now, you may not be aware of this, but while Alex is my first nephew by blood, he is not my first nephew. Some of my dear friends (Jeremy and Lynnette Page & Kris and Erica Miller), have children who also call me Aunt Toni...well, actually only one is talking as yet, but that is beside the point. Ha ha! So, I actually now have 3 nephews (Luke, Byron, and Alex) and 1 niece (Aurora). And they are all very special to me and I am thrilled beyond all measure to be their Aunt.
Being an Aunt is still new for me, but fortunately I have had some wonderful examples of Aunts (and Uncles) over the years that I can look to and this is what I have come up with. As I see it, there are 5 very important jobs that I have as an Aunt.
1) Be a Christlike Example: I want them to know that I love Jesus and that He is indeed my top priority.
2) Pray for my nephews and niece: There are lots of things that they will have to face that I never had to face as a child. They need my prayers.
3) Be a listening ear: I know as I was growing up, sometimes I needed someone other than Mom and Dad that I could unload my problems on or work through an issue with. I am so thankful that my Aunts were there for me to talk to. They often had insight into my parents that I needed to hear in order to be able to see my parent's point of view. I want to be able to do the same.
4) Provided help when needed: Over the years...especially when I lived far away from my parents, my Aunts and Uncles have come to my assistance many times in many different fashions. At times it was money, sometimes it was advice, and sometimes is was an earful that I really needed to hear...even if I didn't want to. (Yep, I was a stubborn teenager...I'll admit it.) I am truly blessed by my Aunts and Uncles and I want to be the same kind of blessing to my niece and nephews.
5) Never let them forget that they are loved: Though none of them live close, I never want Alex, Luke, Byron or Aurora to forget that they are loved by their Aunt Toni. When I can't see them in person, I love sending cards, letters, and packages and when they get old enough to talk on the phone, I'll do that too.
Thank you to all my Aunts and Uncles. You have blessed and continue to bless my life more than I can say. I hope I can be as good an Aunt as you have all been to me.
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