Settling In

I've been thinking about the idea of settling a lot lately. Especially since we moved a month ago! We're still trying to find our way around town, but doing much better. The house has a lived in look, but there are still boxes to go through. We are beginning to feel like this is home, yet still feel a bit out of sorts at times.

After so much work, I simply don't want to finish the tasks. I don't want to hang pictures, go through the last boxes in the basement, decide where those last few things go, etc. But, to truly feel like this is home, that's exactly what I need to be doing. Especially with the new school year right around the corner!

I'm not really good at settling in in my spirit, either. I'm always playing a game of "WHEN." When this happens, when that happens, next month, when the kids are older...Sound familiar to anyone else?

I think that sometimes growth truly happens when we let the dust settle. For me, that means I relax, enjoy my life as it is now, and don't focus all my energy on what needs to happen. Then I can enjoy talking at the table with the children, versus rushing to get the dishes done and get to the next thing, for example. And, as we know, it's in the talking and living life together, that some of the moments we cherish the most occurs.

So, I'm going to keep getting settled. And, spend some time this week, just hanging out with God. Not pushing Him to do things my way, or to get them done on my time table. Just spending time being. And, in the process, maybe hang a picture or two.

Reaching Forward

Philippians 3:13-14 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

As I've been packing and saying goodbye this week, I've been thinking about how hard it is to be married to a United Methodist pastor. I somewhat identify with Jesus who had no place to lay his head. Although not the same, the place where I put my head changes so much that sometimes I forget where I am!

Then I think about Paul. His calling from Jesus meant that he never stayed in one city all that long either. And, he underwent tremendous amounts of persecution for preaching the name of Jesus. Yet, when placed in chains in prison, what was his response? Singing and praising God with joy.

Although nowhere near experiencing what Paul did, I can somewhat understand him. Yes there were many difficulties in his life, but there was also adventure that comes only from following God. He got to meet people in all walks of life who loved Christ. No matter where he went, Jesus was there~as were those loved Him. And, he got to experience first hand the amazing works of God in so many lives. No wonder he felt joy!

So, while saying goodbye is hard for our family, excitement is possible because we know that the people in our new church love Christ too. Already we have a relationship built on common ground with people who are seeking to know Christ and to make him known.

I don't know what's ahead for us. But one thing I do know: together we will press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Now that's something to rejoice about.

HELP!!

During all of the recent packing stress I found myself wishing I had help. Like professional packers, professional cleaners, a chef and a masseuse. And, I spent time dreaming of vacations!

Then a friend of mine volunteered to help me with the packing and cleaning. What a blessing, right?

Well, the weird thing is that I was really uncomfortable. I didn't relish the thought of her seeing me~or my house~at less than best.

So over she came bringing food, help and encouragement. And she volunteered to do the grossest of jobs~clean the vent over my stove and the refrigerator.

I better understand Peter's response to Jesus in the upper room. Feeling dirty and unworthy to have his feet washed by Deity. Yet Jesus told him in no uncertain terms that this act of service was a necessity.

Jesus served Peter. But, Jesus also allowed others to serve him. Remember when Mary poured her expensive perfume over him? In Jesus I find perfect balance, for he is a perfect God.

So I will learn to allow others to minister to me. And in the process, just maybe I'll learn how to care for others just a little bit better.

Thanks, Rene. Today, in your eyes, I saw Jesus~caring enough to serve even me.

What Am I Eating?

I've been thinking about eating lately. You see, I can probably talk to you about every type of eating plan there is. For years I read, studied, and tried many styles of eating, searching for that illusion: the perfect body.

In the process, I lost my ability to enjoy food. And, I don't think the Father meant for that to happen.

So I began to ask God to guide my eating. And to bring back my enjoyment of food. And, slowly, this is happening.

I think the same thing can happen in our spiritual lives, if we're not careful. Especially for those perfectionists like me. I pushed so hard to be perfectly holy, acceptable and pleasing to God, that the joy died out. Because, after all, the joy comes from knowing that I don't have to be perfect at all. Because Jesus is. And, through acceptance of his life, so am I.

I am beginning to enjoy God deeply. To taste and see that He is good. And, because He is, so am I.

Now that's a feast I don't want to miss.

Make Today Count

I was thinking over my day today and deciding not much happened. I packed a bunch of boxes preparing for our move. I took the car to get 4 new tires put on. I exercised this morning, as I usually do. I also fed the kids, cleaned things up, ran errands, and so on. A pretty typical day~except I haven't walked the dogs yet! So, my day just wasn't significant.

Yet wasn't it? God reminds me that every day matters. Every day I have the chance to say yes in a million ways. To say yes to reading his Word. To say yes to taking care of my body, his temple. To say yes to my children when I'd rather be doing something else. To say yes to smiling at a clerk in a store, allowing someone in front of me in traffic, encouraging other members of the body of Christ.

You know, it's faithfulness in the small matters that get us ready for those things that we deem "big." Just like I can't be ready to move next week if I don't get up each day and pack some things into a box, make calls, etc. I can't be ready when God calls on me to respond to a crisis unless I've been faithful to daily answer his voice with a "Yes."

So, in heaven's eyes, who knows how big today was in my life~and in yours? It may be that something as significant happened to me as it did to a young girl, long ago, going about her life. Until angel showed up and said "Hail, Favored one, the Lord is with you." And, Mary, soon-to-be mother of Jesus, responded with a Yes.

Lord Jesus, may it be so with me. Always.

Yes.

How Tight is Your Grip???

Well, yet another weird thing has happened to me~I have tennis elbow. Not too weird, until you hear that I don't play tennis. Ever. Don't even own a racquet. And, since I have to lift heavy boxes preparing for our move, it couldn't come at a worse time!

One thing I've learned is tennis elbow is related to more than the elbow and is hurts the most when gripping things. And, the tighter the grip, the greater the pain. And, the heavier the weight, the more the pain. So, the problem is probably related to my home exercise addiction! (But, I don't lift weights over 8 or 10 pounds, so I'm still not sure why this happened!!).

I started to wonder what things I'm gripping too tightly in my spiritual life. Am I holding on to pain, anger, righteous indignation, dying dreams...the list goes on. And, what kind of heavy weight am I lugging around that I'm not meant to bear? You know, like my tennis elbow, the problem can come on slowly until it's a full-blown case of Cheri needing some serious help!

But, it doesn't have to get to that point, does it? Jesus stands ready to bear my burden, if I but ask him to help me loosen my grip. For his "load is easy, his burden is light." And, by loosening my grip, I can find "rest for my soul."

So, today, I pray that God will give me the ability to recognize the signs that I'm doing too much. I'm not meant to be a spiritual Superwoman, you know. And, even when I begin gripping onto the things that I think I need, I stand ready for his loving correction, desiring his truth in my innermost being. Only then can I continue on, bearing my burdens and others in a way that glorifies my Father.

And, while I'm at it, I might take up tennis. Hey, if I'm gonna have tennis elbow, I might as well have a reason for it!!

Pain: The Dark Side of Joy

We've had some news that has changed our lives. And, brought great pain. So, I've been sitting with it. In the past I've run from pain and tried to fill that space with something else, even upbeat prayers. For now, at this point in my life, I'm realizing that it's okay to hurt. To sit quietly, and feel the grief born of frustration, misunderstanding, and even deliberate acts.

How can I do this? Well, I know my physician. God takes very personally the pain of his people. In fact, I'm clinging to the Bible's words that he stores every tear that falls in a bottle. Imagine, a bottle of tears, precious to God, with your name on it. And mine.

And, one day, he will wipe every tear away. And we will be in his presence forever. Realizing, He's so worth it.

So, I encourage you to take your pain to God. Make it an offering, an act of worship, a living sacrifice. And wait for the sun to rise again. With him, all things are always made new. And that is why I can have joy, even in the midst of pain.