Remembering

     I love being an elementary school teacher and the other day, I had the opportunity to take my class on a field trip to the Williams' farm. As I drove up the lane I thought about the first time I ever made that drive. It was before I knew that I would move to this wonderful town, before I was a teacher, it was the day I met my husband. It's crazy to think about, because that day, almost 4 years ago, I would never have guessed that I would be making this trip now, With a new name and a classroom of kids in tow. As I make this trip I wonder what I will think in 4 more years or 10 or 20. What changes await in the future? What adventures?
    

 “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.”
~Heraclitus

The I.T. Guy Part 2

     So, as I wrote last time, my work computer was having difficulties. Any way, as it turned out the poor old desktop computer I had been using was simply too old to be updated. So, the next solution was to drag out my dusty old laptop and start getting my files moved over. And so, I began the process, happy to find out that the laptop actually runs a lot faster than the old desktop. Then, the world of technology threw me another curve ball. I couldn't get the printer to hook up to the computer and suddenly my happy progress was halted. So once again, my wonderful dad has been spending many phone calls and texts with me trying to get it all figured out. I try to tell him what I see on the screen in my very un-techy way and then he begins to search and advice and talk me through the steps I need to take. We were stilling having problems and that's when the really cool tech savvy stuff started to happen. Dad tells me over the phone to click here and select that and then suddenly from 300 miles away my Dad has complete control of my computer. I sit back and watch as the mouse moves across the screen, seemingly on its own, but knowing that it's just my dad working his magic. Now the printing problem is not fixed yet, but he's still working on it.
      Did you know that our Heavenly Father wants to help you with your problems? I can't physically see my dad right now because he lives way across the state, but he's still there for me. And so it is with our Heavenly Father. No, we can't see him and sometimes you may feel as though He isn't there but all you have to do is call him. I could have tried to work through my computer problems all by myself and never once told my daddy that I was having problems. I could have done this, but I wouldn't have gotten very far. In our lives we are going to come up against "computer problems" these problems may be seen in sin, loss, hurt and  million other technical glitches. Sadly, we all to often attempt to fix these problems on our own or sadder yet simply give up on them and attempt to work around our "printing problem." But our Heavenly Father is just waiting for that call, "Dad, I need help...It's the dumb printer again. What should I do?" And you know what, He will take time from His day to talk you through the steps, to give you pointers on things to try and tell you what buttons to push and which ones to avoid.
      Now as I mentioned above, my dad has this really cool program which lets him access my computer from miles away. But you know what I had to do before he could take the controls? I had to give him a password from my laptop. He couldn't access my computer without my permission. Our Heavenly Father, the One who gave you life, who loves you and knows yours joys and your pains want to help you. He knows the solutions to all your "computer problems" but you have to give him the password. Open your heart and let Him take control . Because then you can sit back and watch Him do His thing and you can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the One who wrote the program knows how to fix the glitches that are operator errors.


"Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, He loves us perfectly. Though we may feel lost and without compass, God's love encompasses us completely. ... He loves every one of us, even those who are flawed, rejected, awkward, sorrowful, or broken."
~Dieter F. Uchtdorf 
     

The I.T. Guy

       My Dad is pretty great. You see, my computer at work was having issues. Something about an out of date program that no longer had available updates and is thus at risk of computer viruses etc. etc. Anyway...Some people might experience this problem and have to spend time on the phone with some unknown IT person and have a whole lot of run around and hoopla. Not me, nope. You know why? Because my Dad just happens to be one of those smart, tech-y, people who fixes others computer problems for a living. So, I text him and he says "Call me." And so I do. After talking with me and running over options and the specifics he simply tells me, "Bring it home over Easter, I'll fix it for you." So there you have it, my Dad is AWESOME.
       But let's look at this one step further. We have a Heavenly Father who is there for us. He loves you so very much. And you know what He did. He died so that He could fix the biggest problem His children have--sin. Our imperfections, our faults, our mistakes, they have the power to be the end of us. But our Heavenly Father took care of that by allowing His son to die in our place. Just bring it to Him and He's there ready to take the problem off our hands.

" Within the covers of the Bible are the answers for all the problems men face." -Ronald Reagan

Within the covers of the Bible are the answers for all the problems men face.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/problems.html#ycsGekXjV8Hdfi2Y.99Within the

Within the covers of the Bible are the answers for all the problems men face.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/problems.html#ycsGekXjV8Hdfi2Y.99

   

Thank you

To the parents of my love,
     I wanted to say thank you. Thank you for raising a son who is truly wonderful. Thank you for teaching him about God and helping him to have a firm foundation. For I have been truly blessed to be married to a man who is so rock solid in his faith. He has been there for me in many ups and downs.
     Thank you for teaching him respect and love. I am one of those lucky girls who has a husband who opens doors for me and warms up my car on bitterly cold days.
     Thank you for teaching him about hard work. Because I am blessed to have a husband who provides and does a great job at it.
     Thank you so much for all that you did in raising him, you did a spectacular job. I love him a lot.

Psalm 136

Psalm 136

Give thanks the LORD, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of gods, for His steadfast love endures forever.

Give thanks to the LORD of lords, for His steadfast love endures forever.

To Him who alone does great wonders, for His steadfast love endures forever. 

To Him who by understanding made the heaves, for his steadfast love endures forever.

To Him who spread the earth above the waters, for His steadfast love endures forever.

To Him who made the great lights, for His steadfast love endures forever;

The sun to rule over the day, for His steadfast love endures forever;

The moon and stars to rule over the night, for His steadfast love endures forever...

It is He who remembered us in our low estate, for His steadfast love endures forever;

And rescued us from our foes, for His steadfast love endures forever.

He who gives food to all flesh, for Hist steadfast love endures forever. 

I've heard it said that you can insert your own thanks and praises into this psalm. So, here is my personal version.

Give thanks to The One who lived and died for me, His steadfast love endures forever. 

Give thanks to The One who took my sins, His steadfast love endures forever. 

Praise to The One who loves me so, His steadfast love endures forever.

He blesses me daily, His steadfast love endures forever. 

He has given me an awesome family, His steadfast love endures forever.

An amazing husband, His steadfast love endures forever. 

Friends who make me laugh, His steadfast love endures forever.

A job that I love, His steadfast love endures forever.

Beautiful days of sunshine that make my heart dance, His steadfast love endures forever. 

Frosty Fridays in November to be enjoyed, His steadfast love endures forever. 

Happy Friday.

Coziness

     I think that in some ways, I am an old fashioned girl at heart. Ever since I was little, I've been fascinated with the times gone by.  I'd imagine myself living on the prairie, being a pioneer. Recently I got a new pair of boots which in my head look like something that Laura Ingalls Wilder would have worn. I put them on, head to school, and feel like an old fashioned, one roomed, school teacher and it makes me smile. Last week my husband and I attended a barn raising. The very term "Barn raising" pulls me back to that old fashioned place.  We strapped on our work boots, tramped through the mud, had fun with friends and watched as the barn took shape. Fall is here and there is a pot of cranberry tea simmering on the stove. We have plans to make caramel for apple dipping, and as the wind howls outside coziness abounds.  All these things blend together creating a quaintness and charm that makes the heart smile. So find a cozy spot and have a lovely evening. Happy Friday.

Metamorphosis

     The first day of Autumn happened a week ago and the colors of the season are beginning to show their faces. I love Fall. With the coming of Fall has come new changes. I started a new job recently. A job that I was so excited to get and have loved from the get go. I am a teacher. Finally. Years of college were starting to wear on me and I wondered if I would ever stop being on the student end of things. And then, just like, that I get a call saying the job is yours. I love working with kids. It is energizing and oh so fun. I love it when the kids call me Mrs. Williams and I love telling funny stories from my classroom. Like I've been fighting a cold lately and the other day I blew my nose during class. One of my third graders giggled and commented that Mrs. Williams was using her nose for a trumpet.
      One of the topics we have been studying lately is Insects. Some insects go through a process called Incomplete Metamorphosis. The three stages of this are egg, nymph, adult. As I was thinking about this the other day, it occurred to me that in a way, as followers of The One who gave us life,  we are going through these same stages.  You see, after the egg hatches into a nymph it must molt multiple times before it finally emerges as an adult. So often in life, we go through changes and think we are finally there only to realize that there is yet another step ahead of us. This can get frustrating. But you know what, I think that we are going to be in the "Nymph stage" as long as we walk this earth. Because know matter what we learn or how we grow, we are never going to get it all figured out. And that is perfectly okay. In fact that is how we have been designed. God wants us to learn and develop and grow in Him. But until we finally meet Him face to face we will always have learning to do.
     This is truly a lesson I need to get through my head. So often, I look at myself and get frustrated. I get frustrated because I don't understand something or because I see so many imperfections in who I am. But I'm human, I'm never going to be perfect. But Jesus, the One who loves my soul and died for it wants me and you to know that we are doing okay. Keep allowing yourselves to learn and grow, allow The One who loves you to guide you through the changes and ups and downs. As new understanding comes we will molt and then do it again. We are Nymphs. But someday, we will meet Jesus in person. And on that day we will molt for the last time and be complete.  Paul says in    1Corinthians 13:12 "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known."
     So, I encourage you, don't get discouraged. No matter where you are in life or in your understanding of who God is, allow yourself to rest in the hand of the One who designed the system. He will get you through. Keep growing, learning and going deeper with Him. Happy Monday




"We are all butterflies. Earth is our chrysalis.”
  ~LeeAnn Taylor

The Responsibility

     This morning I was cleaning the gunk out of my wedding ring and it got me thinking about something. Just a little over two years ago, I wrote about The Promise. My Love had just asked me to be his wife and I had a beautiful, new, diamond ring on my left hand. I wrote about how, just like a diamond ring symbolizes the promise of forever, The One who breathes life into our very souls has given us a promise. A promise, to save us, love us, and keep us.
      As I looked at my ring and scrubbed away the soap scum and dirt, it occurred to me that just as I needed to occasionally give my ring a good cleaning, so also, I must take care of the Promise from the Creator of my soul. You see, promises come with responsibility. The responsibility to guard them. Just like my ring collects grime and thus looses its true shine, so too can a promise. The Lover of my soul has promised to be with me always, but when I allow fear, doubt, carelessness, or whatever sneak into my life, I allow a build up to dull the shine of The Promise.
     Now, this does not mean to say that the promise is any less true. Just because my wedding ring may not shine as brightly due to crud, does not make it any less precious. It is still a diamond set in gold. Nothing can change that fact. It may not shine as brightly as the day it was placed on my finger, but that has nothing to do with the love my husband has for me or with the state of our relationship, it simply means that I have failed to take care of it.
     The same is true of The Promise that I have received from the One who calls my name. He is steady and His promises are rock solid. But how have I done with my responsibility of taking care of the promise? All too often, I let fear and doubt cloud the shine. I fail to trust Him and soon I take a look at the promise and begin to panic. I panic because it has become cloudy and I fear that He has, just maybe, stopped caring. Just maybe, He has given up on me. However, just as a diamond is always a diamond, dirty or not, so too is His promise. It never changes.
     And so, it is our responsibility to guard our promises. Be it the promise between a husband and wife to love on another till death or the beautiful promise we have received from the One who died for us, we need to guard it. To make sure that we don't allow anything to dull their shine.
    And so today, If you are struggling with fears or doubts, if something has crept in to dull the shine of your  promise, I challenge you to take a stand. Realize that though you may not see the sparkle right now, The Promise has not changed. A diamond is still and always will be a diamond, gunk or not. Polish with faith and dust with trust, and before you know it the sparkle of The Promise will once again dance. Happy Saturday.

"God never made a promise that was too good to be true." ~Dwight L. Moody

Psalm 145:13-14
"Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down."

2 Corinthians 1:20-22
"For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come."

The Blanket

     When I was a kid, I remember being in bed and being concerned for the safety of my feet. You see, my mind had decided that there was a floating, green, hand that really wanted to sneak up and grab them. And the one thing that would keep me safe was to have my blanket on. For some reason exposed feet were sure to be attacked, but covered feet were safe. And so, I made sure that my blanket covered my feet. It's silly really, because if there had truly been some foot snatching menace, I'm pretty sure that my blanket wouldn't have done the trick, and yet, there was security in being covered up.
    Today, I still struggle with fears. The green hand is no longer a threat but fear still finds a way to plague my mind. But guess what, there was a simply solution to dealing with the foot snatcher and there is a simple solution in dealing with the fears, doubts and worries that so often try to snatch my mind today(Though I still need to be constantly reminded of this). The One who breathed life into my very soul covers me with His protection every day. Fear and doubt try to entangle my mind and make life miserable, but the answer is simple, allow The One to be there for me, to cover me with His protection, love and grace. So whatever is trying to drag you down today, don't worry, The One who is there for me is there for you too. Your feet are safe. Have a great day!

 “I like to hear a storm at night. It is so cozy to snuggle down among the blankets and feel that it can't get at you.” ~L.M Montgomery

Isaiah 41:10
"fear not, for I am with you;
 be not dismayed, for I am your God;
 I will strengthen you, I will help you,
 I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Happy Monday

      Today has been one of those days that are just good. I found out this morning that I got the summer job that I had applied for a couple months ago and had given up on getting. I cut up sweet and juicy pineapple and strawberries.  I went back to visit my student teaching class of fourth graders. I baked a cake and hugged a baby. Oh sweet summer! Happy Monday.

"“Bees do have a smell, you know, and if they don't they should, for their feet are dusted with spices from a million flowers.”~Ray Bradbury

The Songs

     Your life is a song. A song that is just you. The notes and melody are uniquely yours. This song dances through every moment of your life with sharps and flats, accidentals and grace notes. It is your song. As I have been thinking about our lives and the music they create, I began to think about how when we share our lives with others, the individual melodies begin to blend and harmonize creating an entirely new piece. Thus, each relationship has a unique song all its own. There are songs of love and songs of friendship and family. Songs of shared moments and common ground.
    My song has blended with many different ones over the course of my life. Friendships that have been short and sweet, little musicals that only play for a time, and others that continue on, filling the air with music. Sometimes, melodies that you would never put together by choice somehow begin to intertwine and something beautiful comes from the unexpected. A new song that no one would have thought of.
     Your song does not necessarily remain static either. As you grow and change, the melody of you swells and grows. There is always a common thread, a repeating motif that holds the very essence of you, but the notes and tempo may, on occasion, change. That is why it is so beautiful. The music is always flowing and changing. Always you but always new.
     The wonderful thing about sharing life with people is that sometimes, the good in others rubs off on us. Our song begins to take on a small piece of another's song. Thus, even when you are alone, there is a piece of the other with you. So today, start to realize the beauty, not only of your song, but also the songs of the people in your life. And most importantly, listen for and enjoy the unique songs of your friendships, your marriage, your family. Happy Friday

"Music is forever; music should grow and mature with you, following you right on up until you die." ~Paul Simon