Brave: Family Movie Night

Tweet

Synopsis:  Merida, daughter of King Fergus & Queen Elinor & heir to Clan DunBroch, is hard headed & strong willed. Her mother has endeavored, perhaps in vain, to groom her daughter in preparation to one day be queen of the Scottish kingdom. An age old sacred tradition of intermarrying between clans stands before Merida. The 3 firstborn sons of the other clans (Dingwall, Macintosh, & MacGuffin) have a change to win Princess Merida's hand through an archery tournament. Merida (a skilled archer herself), whose independent impetuousness has been somewhat encrouaged by her father, rebels against the custom thereby throwing the kingdom into chaos. 'I'll fight for me own hand,' she proclaims. In an act of outright defiance she does just that. Queen Elinor & Merida have a heated argument that sends Merida fleeing into the wilderness. She meets a witch  who concocts a spell that will supposedly cause Merida's mother to bend her will, but in a surprising twist it actually changes Elinor into a bear. Merida discovers that she only has 48 hours before the curse becomes permanent. 'Fate be changed, look inside. Mend the bond hurt by pride." The remainder of the movie alternates between King Fergus trying to hunt down the bear (Queen Elinor) & Merida who is attempting to restore her mother. At the last possible moment the bond is mended through Merida's repentance & Queen Elinor is restored to her original form. 

I've read several reviews on Brave, both Christian & secular, but to be honest I just varied in my opinion of them so I decided to write my own. As many of you know I am avidly Pro-Princess...but that's another post all together (I'll put the link to that at the bottom of this post). As with every movie this one has pros & cons, good points & bad points, but I wholeheartedly believe that we as parents have the determining influence of what our children take from animated films, regardless of the characters, & that rather than refuse to allow our children to enjoy them, we should simply be intentional in driving home the truths that can be found within the plot lines. Brave is full such truths. I have read reviews from those with a feminist bent who would have us take from Brave that we should rebel & seek our own destiny & fate regardless of repercussions to others. I have read Christian reviews that say between the feminist mindset in the film & the Scottish religion that the movie does more harm than good...I personally disagree with both. I am nothing more than a mother who wants her 3 daughters to grow up & embrace their roles as Princesses, daughters of the King of Kings, so my take on Brave stems from that. All that being said, here is what I share with my darlings before we watch this film, each & every time we watch this film. 

Historically Accurate: 

Brave is a fictional plot set within a nonfiction setting. The story of Merida occurs in the Scottish Highlands before Scotland received the gospel. The presentation of the ancient Scottish religion in the film is historically accurate. They believed in magic, witchcraft, wisps, fairies, & etc. Mysticism was the religion of the time. Point this out to your children. The ancient Scottish people had never heard of Jesus or the Bible. They did not know our faith. The scenario that is the underbelly of the story is also historically accurate. Ancient Scotland was a convolution of passionate, argumentative clans. Four large clans (Dingwall, Macintosh, MacGuffin, & DunBroch) & each large clan was made up by countless smaller clans. The highland people were combative & fierce, but they united under a kingdom through the creation of a covenant with one another. It is also historically accurate that the maintaining of this covenant was assured through intermarrying between clans. For example: A clan leader was not likely to war with another clan in which his daughter & grandchildren resided. 

Negative Elements of Brave:

1. There is some sexual content (mooning). At one point all of the clansmen must get out of the castle by way of tying all their kilts together. The viewer then sees their bare hinys run across the screen. One onery Lord outright moons his clansmen on several instances. King Fergus & Queen Elinor smooch (which I use as positive & point out as appropriate in marriage & as a sign that the husband & wife love one another). At the end of the film when Queen Elinor is restored to human form she is naked under the tapestry, but nothing is visible. 

2. There is violence, but once again this is historically accurate. It's also portrayed comically. There is another bear in the film that is dark in nature & honestly my girls are frightened during the scenes that he is in. In these scenes the portrayal of historical Scottish mysticism is dark, violent, & etc...I use this to show them that the dangers, wrongs, harms, etc. of other religions.

3. Drinking. The clansmen drink from flagons & the private stores of ale are opened. This is an issue that is personal in nature. If you as parents are wholly against alcohol then this should be pointed out as wrong. If you teach your children responsible alcohol consumption then this can be addressed in that manner. 

4. Impolite behaviors occur such a burping & farting. 

5. Perhaps the most negative thing about the film is Merida's & even her triplet brothers' blatant disrespect for their parents. Merida & her mother exchange words that both regret. It's a fairly intense scene..I however am thankful for this because the film makes clear the harm of disobedience & disrespect.

6. If the viewer wants to see it that way, the film can be extremely feminist in nature & discouraging to the honorable roles of being a wife & mother. I can see how if just left to interpretation girls would perceive that if they do not like what their parents tell them then they should rebel & be applauded for doing so. To just watch this film without guidance it seems to encourage female independence & autonomy. Queen Elinor is not the epitome of the submissive wife either. She oversteps King Fergus numerous times, as well as chastises him in front of the children. I do not agree with that behavior so I use it as a chance to explain to the girls submission & how it should be practiced...once again this is a matter of perspective.

7. Merida convinces both her mother & the clan to forgo the tradition & to allow each to choose his own destiny if you will. This can be perceived as her rebellion being successful...it also can be viewed as her bending her parents will to her own. I have a different outlook on this scene, & explain it to the girls in a different way that I will describe in depth below. 

Positive Elements of Brave:

1. The greatest point in the film is the rocky relationship between Merida & her mother. Merida in her naivete does not understand the expectations upon her nor the obligations she is expected to fulfill. She deems that she knows best & rebels against her mother. There is a scene of great disagreement between the two...I always use this scene to talk to my girls about how hurtful words can be & etc. It's a good chance to discuss how to handle disagreements. It's a good chance to plug in scripture as well. The commandment to honor your father & mother is perfect for this. (Exodus 20:12).

2. In the beginning of the film is a scene that shows Queen Elinor is training Merida to be queen. (Proverbs 22:6) I share with my girls that mommy & daddy have a responsibility to 'train them up' in the ways of God & how to be good people. We talk about how that is what the queen is doing with the princess. As the girls get older I want to get into the specifics of our obligations as Christians & daughters of the King...what are our roles within His Kingdom & etc. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) fits in as well with this scene. That scripture speaks of how the word of God are to be in every single thing we do.

3. Throughout the film are the concepts of Kingdom & Covenant...these same concepts are the integral part of our faith. We are called into a covenant with Abba. That covenant makes us children of God & thereby heirs to His Kingdom. (Romans 8:17) (James 2:5) As princesses (& princes) we have duties, responsibilities, & obligations to be about the business of the King of Kings & to serve His Kingdom...the same is true for Merida.

4. This film makes clear the consequences of rebellion (sin). It does not sugar coat the harm that has been done by giving Queen Elinor the spell. The story makes clear a snowball effect of harm that comes from Merida's deceit...with each instance I point out to the girls that all of those things stem from an act of disobedience or defiance (sin). Just as Merida does not like the expectations before her, we do not always like to do what we are supposed to do. I point out to the girls how Merida's disobedience hurts others. We talk about the consequences, not only for Merida & her immediate family, but for the Scottish kingdom as a whole. Their unity depends upon the maintaining of the covenant. In the Christian faith our upkeep of our covenant with Abba is critical to the benefit of His Kingdom. 

5. Story shows how maturation lends understanding. Throughout the movie Merida starts to see her mother in a different light, & she begins to understand the things her mother has been teaching her. I explain  to my girls that right now they might not always understand the things daddy & I are trying to teach them, but that if they just trust in us & have faith that we know best that one day they will understand. 

6. I mentioned above that it can be viewed that Merida's strong will resulted in the ending of an age-old tradition...I would say that while the terms of the covenant might be altered (marriage will still occur, but rather than a man winning her hand through contest he must do so by winning her love) it is still intact. Abba brings us into covenant with himself through love. The final couple of minutes of this film are rushed but they are of paramount importance. As the clansmen prepare to sail away a scene quickly flashes of one of the men kissing Merida's hand as her mother stands near. This shows how Merida accepts the tradition, thereby respecting both her parents & her duties as princess. If one doesn't pay attention that is missed. Merida does yield to what is right. 

7. Repentance is a strongly woven thread in this tale. Merida truly understands the wrongs she has done & the consequences of them. As believers we know how valuable that lesson is. 

Perhaps I will add more to this later, but for now those are the main issues that I discuss with my girls when we watch the film. I am ever impressed by the way the are really getting what I am telling them. The older your children are the deeper you can go with these talking points. Each time we watch the movie I find more & more specific quotes that I point out due to their application to the Princess mindset...for example when Elinor is training Merida, she tells her 'A princess must know about her kingdom."  We must know about Abba's Kingdom...we must be about His business. As I said this film, all films, present the message that we allow it. I make this story into a positive one for my daughters...it's intentional.  On an interesting side note, the Lone Ranger's family on both sides comes from Scotland, & he is descended from the Mcintosh clan (the ones painted blue). My husband (a history buff ) has in depth researched Scottish history due to his ancestry, & he assures me that he is impressed with Disney & Pixar's attention to historical detail. You might notice that the Mcintosh clansmen do slightly resemble my man ;o)  I hope this is a blessing to your family!

*If you haven't already, please read my Punishing Princesses post. It will help you fully understand why I wrote this one!

http://striving2baproverbs31woman.blogspot.com/2012/08/punishing-princesses.html 

Au Natural: Believing You Are Beautiful

Tweet

This is me with my Makeup Mask in place

As I'm standing in front of my bathroom mirror with the mascara wand poised for application, I hear a sweet little voice say, 'Mommy are you getting pretty?" I'd been mentally preparing myself for the makeup & beauty questions so I had my answers ready. "Sweetheart, Mommy is pretty just the way God made her.(Yeah right) Make up is just for fun. Mommy only wears it sometimes" What I hadn't anticipated, but should have known was that my Goldilocks would have a comment wise beyond her years.'Yeah Mommy, like when people are gonna see you."  She skipped her way out of the bathroom leaving me chuckling & convicted. I tell my Darlings all the time that they are lovely. I tell them that they don't need fancy clothes or makeup to be beautiful. I tell them that beauty comes from the inside. Don't get frazzled, don't close this post... I'm not saying you should toss out your bag of makeup...I certainly am not!  I am simply very aware that my message to my daughters appears hypocritical...it is indeed, I did not mean one word of what I told my daughter. Goldilocks' is not even 4 years old, & she saw through my ruse.
I look at my rosy cheeked, bright eyed beauties, & I know that no amount of makeup would ever make them more gorgeous in my eyes. So when did I begin looking in the mirror & seeing only the flaws? On the days when the darlings & I are home, I rarely wear makeup...but I also avoid the mirrors. I go makeup free at home in a conscious attempt to show my darlings that Mommy doesn't always wear makeup & doesn't just wear it to feel pretty, but they can see through this farce. Goldilocks called me out on it. This morning I got out of the shower, blow dried my hair, put on moisturizer, looked at my reflection & cringed. I do not like what I see in the mirror. I do not view my au natural appearance as pleasant in the least. I have J.R. Ewing eyebrows, teeth that could use braces (again), round cheeks, blotchy complexion, a double chin...the list never ends. Indeed I look in that mirror & see very little that I do like. We all (or at least most) feel that way. We wouldn't dream of walking out into the world without our faces on...it dawned on me yesterday that if that's the case then all we have ever truly seen of one another is a mask...how very sad is that? I want my girls to believe they are beautiful. I want them to love the masterpiece that Abba created when He made them....and truthfully I want to feel that way about myself.
Quite some time ago I wrote a post about beauty called, "Mirror, Mirror',(I'll add a link to it at the bottom of this post) but I have long since forgotten to take to heart all that the Lord revealed to me in that message. Scripture is clear, beloved sisters, beauty...the true, genuine, & unfading kind, comes from within. Beauty that is evident in the sparkle of the eyes & in the depths of a smile derives from who we are. 1 Peter 3:3-4 'Don't be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourself instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle & quiet spirit, which is so beautiful to God." The Proverbs 31 Woman had beautiful clothes & most likely makeup as well so certainly those things are not bad...unless what we are without them is ugly (not in the physical sense). If we despise what we see in the mirror, if we envy those who we view as more lovely...I would say that appearance has become an idol to us, & we must break free from that bondage. Today I am going to begin ripping off those chains. I am going to take a giant leap out of my comfort zone. I am going to have faith that Abba will reveal to me the beauty that He sees within me. I will not lie to my darlings. If I tell them that they are beautiful the way Abba made them...if I tell them that I am beautiful the way He made me...then I want to know it...I want to believe it.
Today I am declaring that I am beautiful. I am a woman who loves the Lord, her husband, & her children with all that she is. I am a woman who wants to make a difference in the Kingdom. I am a daughter of the Most High God. I am a princess to the King of Kings. My heart is beautiful (most of the time). My beauty derives from who I am. That's not enough, many of us would admit that our hearts, who we are is good (for the most part). I acknowledge that any beauty I have comes from that, but I want to be shallow for a moment...to admit to outer beauty. Today I am declaring that I am beautiful. I have brown eyes that shine. I like my eyes. I am petite..I like that I am short...for now that's about all that I can admit to honestly, but I am praying that Abba will help me to be more content with the mold He poured my soul into. Today I am declaring that I am beautiful because my Abba created me, & if He declared that His creation was 'Good' then bygolly I will too! Standing that close to the edge of my comfort zone abyss, I might as well jump all the way off...here goes!

Here I am, au natural. No hairspray. No foundation. No eyeshadow. No blush. No lipstick. No contouring. Just me. You'll never know how hard it's going to be for me to hit publish on this post, but I'll do it...because I want the chains gone. I want to be comfortable in my skin. I want you to see me without the mask. I am going to post a picture just like this on Instagram & Facebook as well for the same reasons...This is me, Brianne Kaye Rainey Davidson. Named after my Daddy & my Grammie. Wife of the Lone Ranger. Mother of the Darlings. Daughter of Abba. Brown-eyed, short girl.  I am beautiful. 

Be Blessed this Day, Beautiful Sisters!

Mirror, Mirror post:
http://striving2baproverbs31woman.blogspot.com/2012/06/mirror-mirror-body-image.html

Camouflaged Christians

Tweet

I had a feelings that the picture of these camouflaged & bearded men might make you open my link & read this post :o) This post isn't about Duck Dynasty, but for those of you who have never seen it, please check out this awesome show & support these godly men.

This morning the Darlings & I were out taking a leisurely drive along the rural back roads near our home when from out of nowhere a doe suddenly darts out in front of our van. This scenario plays out nearly every time we take to the roads, & time has proven that when one deer darts out another soon follows. I slowed the van to a stop & told the darlings to look out their window to see if they could spot the other deer. We trained our eyes upon the woods & scanned the area. Nothing. I daresay that even the Lone Ranger, a veteran hunter, would have had trouble spotting one. I was just about to drive away when a flicker of movement caught my attention. There hidden amid the trees was another doe. Other than the slight movement of her ears, she was invisible. As we continued our drive I marveled at the way Abba created the deer...the way He created them to be invisibly visible...camouflage...which got me to thinking about the Lone Ranger...and how good he looks in his camouflage...oops, sidetracked, back to my point...it got me thinking about how the Lone Ranger hunts. When my husband goes hunting, it's serious business. Head to toe he is dressed in camo, but more intense than that the man showers with dirt soap, yes dirt soap...smells just like the real stuff & then...here's the kicker for me, he sprays deer pee on his clothing. Deer Urine. True Story. If that doesn't help my man blend into the woodwork then I don't know what will.  He has told me about the different techniques of hunting; not moving into the wind, taking different paths to the stands, the habits of deer & etc. Camouflage...it's an amazing thing...at least when it comes to hunting...or to an animals ability to remain safe due to the design the Creator (not evolution) gave it.
I pondered these things on our drive this morning. My  two oldest darlings were wailing to Taylor Swift in the back seat & creating a white noise effect that allowed my mind to wander, & wander it did. In the midst of  a ballad by the ever broken hearted Taylor, my thoughts took a turn. Oh, I was still thinking about camouflage, but in a different sense now. I kept thinking about that deer & how well it blended in to the woods around it. I kept pondered how it's coloring & design allowed it to remain unseen, & then I thought of how often we are like that deer. We take comfort in camo...in the ability to 'blend in' & remain unseen. We live in a world that loves conformity. Just look at social media. If a Kardashian wears turquoise jewelry odds are that within a week 75% of women will either be wearing it too or at least wishing that they were. We are a society that moves & operates according to trends & fads. Every era, every decade has fashion trends, must-have gadgets, & political movements that every one bandwagons. There was a time in recent history in which that wasn't a bad thing. Less than a hundred years ago standards of morality & conduct were traditional & modest. They stemmed from a Christian mindset. Believers could walk, talk, & act like nonbelievers because other than the lack of faith, their thoughts & convictions were the same. Times have changed. We lived in a world that is more & more rejecting the things & ways of Abba...in a world that is embracing everything that He despises. It once was possible to be a believer & to blend in with the cool kids. It was possible to be a Christian & to go along with the belief system of popular society, but no more. Gradually values & principals have decayed. Pick an issue, any issue, & it is painfully apparent that the worlds' standards are not biblically based.  I could make a list, describe the decay that has occurred, & the ramifications, but you would tire of reading long before I was done writing...yet the truth remains; a true blue, genuine, transformed believer is no longer capable of 'blending in'.
We know this...what I have said is no great epiphany. Society is unraveling & the church must not unravel with it. We got that memo long ago. My deep down fear is that while we have accepted that truth (the truth that we must not blend in with the world)...we have begun to use this camouflage technique in the church. Several denominations have out rightly compromised biblical views to 'fit in' to society's views, but what I am talking about is more invisible than that. Believers hide behind spiritual jargon...you know what I mean...the 'well bless her hearts", 'God bless you's', & "I'll pray about it'...the phrases that flow naturally & effortlessly out of a church goers mouth. We do bible studies, Sunday School, & programs. We serve in missions, we tithe, we give, & we sacrifice. We do & say all of the right things...we know how to 'blend in' with our church environment. My fear is that some of us have become so good at dawning the camouflage, that our faith has become no more than that...something that we put on in order to blend in. I have seen first hand the way zealous believers are looked at with disdain or even with bemusement by their brothers & sisters in Christ. I, myself, have balked when conviction comes...when Abba nudges my heart & reveals that what I was doing in His name was truly for my own glory.  I fear that, despite good intentions, we do not know what it truly means to be set apart for God. We must be honest with ourselves & be certain that we separate ourselves from the pagan world not with the intention of being part of the 'in' church crowd, but with the motive of being obedient to the Lord. We must be certain that our time in the Word is spent truly seeking & absorbing Abba's teachings, not just reading so that we can chime in at Bible study. We must hide His words in our hearts, not memorize them just so we can tout them off at precisely the right moments. We must be diligent in communicating with our Father, not caught up in eloquent prayers. We must be certain that what we say & do in Jesus' name is for His name & not our own. We must be wary of the tendency to dawn camouflage...we must not dawn religion & forsake true faith. Just like that deer this morning was so hard to see...sometimes our intentions are hard to decipher as well. Just like my husband goes so far as to bathe in dirt soap & to give his garments the aroma of deer pee, so do we become good at creating even the aroma of being true believers. There are those of us who will live our whole lives as Camouflaged Christians, but when the day comes to meet our Abba, He will not know us. No matter how good our camouflage is, there will come a day when we must step out of hiding & into the open...all will be revealed.
Matthew 7:21-23 (Message Version)
'Knowing the correct password-saying 'Master, Master,' for instance- isn't going to get you anywhere with me. What is required is serious obedience-doing what my Father wills. I can see it now-at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me & saying, "Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.' And do you know what I am going to say?  You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don't impress me one bit. You're out of here."
Now I am not a fan of the Message version, but I have to say that this passage, worded in that way, knocks the wind right out of me. Jesus himself said that many would stand before him having walked the walk & talked the talk, having worn the Christian Camo...only to discover that they never truly knew him...& he never truly knew them....to live a whole live saying & doing all the right things only to discover that the heart was not genuine...that is scary.
Romans 12:2 
'Don't copy the behavior & customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good & pleasing & perfect."
Perhaps the greatest example of what I am speaking to is the Pharisees & Sadducees. The gospels are laden with the plague of religious camouflage. The Pharisees were so 'blended in', so camouflaged into their religious lives that they were not even able to recognize Jesus as the Messiah. No one walked the walk or talked the talk better than they did, yet they missed the mark. Jesus said this of them, 'What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law & you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you cross land & sea to make one convert , and then you turn him into twice the child of hell you yourselves are!' (Mathew 23:15) 

Seeing that deer this morning, thinking about camouflage, & of genuine faith caused me to reflect upon myself. It is humbling to look at my life & to honestly evaluate why I do what I do. It is shameful to see the areas in which I fail, but it is necessary. Refusing to acknowledge my sin does negate the consequences...it only keeps me hidden & blended in...but I know that Abba knows all. I want to break free from religious camouflage & to step out in genuine authentic faith. I want my life to be transparent & in plain view. I want to do what I do because I am wretched but saved by Amazing Grace...I want to do what I do because I want you to share in that Grace.  This is my prayer today..."Search me, oh God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me on the path to everlasting life." (Psalm 139: 23-24)   Amen.

Please Pray...

Tweet

Martyrdom & persecution for believing in the Lord & Savior Jesus Christ have been something that much of the world faces...but we in the Western world have felt little true obstacles in the way of our faith. Oh yes, they refuse to allow our children to pray in school, & some towns are being forced to take down the 10 Commandments on their courthouse lawn, but I am speaking of true brutal persecution...I am speaking of death. There are some brave souls, some selfless believers, who have been called to be Jesus in places that want nothing to do with Him. There are disciples of every race, ethnicity, & creed bleeding & dying so that He might be known. Friends, we here, know little of true persecution, but the day is coming in which that might no longer be the case.What I am about to share with you might not impact you this very day, but it might one day be the fate your child or your grandchild. The Lone Ranger shared something with me that has been deeply on my heart & in my mind, & I wanted to share it with you...

There is a man by the name of Pastor Saeed Abedini. This man is standing trial in Iran before the infamous 'Hanging Judge'. This man's crime is undermining the Iranian government by way of spreading the gospel of Jesus. This man is an American Citizen...and our state department is doing nothing...NOTHING to spare his life. In the past Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, President Obama, & his Press Secretary have spoken out to save the life of an Iranian pastor, but in the case of this American Citizen they are silent. The State Department has expressed serious concerns for this man's fate, yet they have not spoken out on his behalf, they have not petitioned to have him returned to U.S. soil...they are watching this man on his death march. Pastor Saeed has been 'on trial'...a true sham. He was given less than 24hrs with a lawyer to plan a defense. His bail was approved & then denied multiple times. This man will very likely die...die in the name of Jesus. He has 2 small children. His wife spoke on radio & shared how her husband used to play worship & sing his daughter to sleep each night. She tells of how that tiny girl now plays worship & cries herself to sleep each night. Pastor Saeed has a young son who is too small to even understand where his daddy is or the terror that is taking place within a cell. Friends, Sisters & Brothers, Please, Please, Please pray for Pastor Saeed. His sentence will be given out within a weeks time. It is very likely that this brother of ours will lose his life. Now we know if this happens that he walk into Glory. I am asking you to pray specifics for this man. Pray for release so that he might be granted life, life with his wife & children. Pray for strength in the face of the brutal abuse he is enduring. Pray for Grace & Peace if his fate is to die. My very heart is that Jesus would meet him in that last moment if that is what is to come. This story has brought to mind anew how very fragile a line we walk. It has brought to mind a new a hope that my faith would be strong enough to endure. Sisters & Brothers, I can not help but wonder if our government is refusing to save this man, this American man, where are things headed for us here? As I have said this might never directly impact us, but it very well could. Are we ready? Are we genuine in our belief? Are we fervent enough? Are we bold enough? Are we willing?
I have attached the links from the American Center for Law & Justice below that better describe in depth all that is going on with Pastor Saeed. I am petitioning you, begging you, this day to intercede on his behalf...to have his name upon your hearts & lips...that he might be ever before Abba....

http://aclj.org/iran/state-department-white-house-spoke-out-pastor-youcef-why-not-american-pastor-saeed
http://aclj.org/iran/pastor-saeeds-wife-shares-story-christian-radio
http://aclj.org/iran/jay-sekulow-american-pastor-saeed-shut-out-of-iranian-trial
http://aclj.org/iran/american-pastor-barred-iranian-trial-address-bogus-charges
http://aclj.org/iran/pastor-saeed-trial-iran-uphold-obligations-protect-religious-liberty
http://aclj.org/iran/white-house-no-statement-trial-american-citizen-iran

Buggies, Blinders, & Complete Focus

Tweet

One of my dearest friends grew up Old Order Amish. The year I got my driver's license & a black Pontiac Sunfire, she got a black buggy (with red velvet interior, seriously).

 

 I used to drive out to her house to spend time with her. Most often we would hitch up her buggy or the two-wheeled cart to go for drives. Prior to meeting Leah I had spent little time around horses & certainly no time in a buggy. One day we headed to Dinky's (a local auction barn), & as we slowly clippity-clopped our way along, car after car flew past the buggy...so fast that the whole thing would sway. To my astonishment that horse acted as though he didn't even notice the noise of the cars or their perilous passing. He kept his head straight on, engrossed in his journey. I, however, did not handle the situation nearly so gracefully. The close proximity of the passing vehicles & their careless haste got me all riled up. I muttered something about being amazed at how Leah's horse handled the dangerous situation better than I did, & she just chuckled at me. 'He's been well trained," she said laughing. (Leah's dad trained horses) "Not to mention he's wearing blinders." For the first time I noticed small black shields on the outside each eye. They look like this:

Even though I was english, & even though my horse & buggy experience was very limited...I quickly surmised the purpose of the blinders. The small shields allow the horse to not worry about what is in his peripheral vision, & allow him to focus only on what's straight before him. The horse trusts his driver, & pays attention only to the road. Leah told me that when the Amish train their horses, they condition them to ignore distraction. I've won't pretend to know the specifics of how this is done, but I can certainly envision a few tactics that might be used to get a horse used to chaos. In my head I imagine fanning wind towards the horse to mimic passing cars...I imagine clattering pots & pans so that they get used to loud noises...perhaps this is fanciful imagining, but I do know that one way or another training occurs. The horses are so well trained that it would take something drastic to startle them. With that lesson under my belt, I was able to sit back & enjoy the ride to the auction. Nearly 10 years later that day has vividly come back to mind, & as usual it now has a spiritual connection. 

One great battle in nearly every believer's life is the ability to stay focused. It is immensely hard to block out distractions & to keep our eyes trained on Abba & His kingdom. The psychological world has labeled it Attention Deficit Disorder...and there's a medicine to cure it, or at least lessen the impacts of it. I would call it   a weakness of the flesh & the result of a sinful nature...and there's absolutely no cure for it other than discipline & willpower. With all that there is to do & accomplish, it's increasingly more & more difficult to stay in tune with the Lord. Endless To-Do lists, obligations, expectations, careers, children, husbands, wives, friends, & etc. all require something from us, & at the end of the day there is very little left over. That issue is why so many pastors browbeat the concept of 'Quiet Time' with the Lord & of having it early in the morning. Once daylight hits & the day gets started, it is very hard to find a moment to take a breath, let alone to take the time to seek Abba & to be in His Word. Without training, without becoming conditioned to ignore distraction, & without blinders, we are hard pressed to keep our eyes on the road ahead of us.We react to the onslaught of life & rip the reins right out of God's hands...running wildly into the chaos before us. How I wish I could just take a pair of those horse blinders, wrap them around my head, not look to either the right or the left, but remain steadfastly immersed in walking along the path Abba has set before me. Is it even a possibility?

I would venture to guess that the behavior of Leah's horse appeared far different the very first time her dad hitched him to a buggy. I would bet that before that horse was broke & trained, he thrashed & startled. I'd imagine that when a car passed he ran or darted.  I'm certain that only Joseph's (Leah's dad) brute strength kept that horse from becoming out of control. Leah's father trained that horse. He conditioned him to not startle at commotions, he taught him obey his commands, & he put the blinders on so that the horse would remain intent on the road ahead of him...relying upon the driver's guidance. When I rode in the buggy with Leah, I noticed that her horse reacted & obeyed the slightest pull on the reins...it didn't take much movement...certainly not a jerk or a shout. I remember wondering why she continued to hold the reins at all, but I know now it was just in case...just in case that horse needed reminding of who was in control. That's the same process we need to follow. We must learn to not get our feathers ruffled at every bump in the road...we must be careful not to allow our trials to cause our focus to wander. We must comprehend & obey Abba's commands...which means we must know them.  We can only know them if we are in the Word, & if we are hiding His words in our hearts. We must put on blinders & rely upon Abba's guidance...we must have resolute focus on the task that the Father has called us to.  We must leave the reins in Abba's hands so that He is the one in control...He is there to remind us who the driver is when needed, When we are in tune with the Father, we are sensitive to even the slightest nudging He gives us...He does not need to strike us or to jerk on the reins. I will not in any way say that this goal is easy....I will not say that we will ever be perfect...even a well trained, veteran buggy horse gets startled & acts up every now & then...but I will say we should...indeed we are called...to strive towards the goal of being a disciplined, will-powered, focused disciple of Abba. I am not saying that we are to be oblivious to life & the mishaps & struggles that come along with it, but that we are to remember who is in the driver's deat, & to rest assured that He has it under control.

Deuteronomy 5:29-30 "Therefore you are to be careful to do as Adonai your God has ordered you; you are not to deviate either to the right or to the left. You are to follow the entire way which Adonai your God has ordered you..."  (Complete Jewish Version)

I long to be like Leah's buggy horse...harness in, hitched up, & blinders on. I long to have Abba holding the reins & guiding my journey. I want to know Him well enough to trust His guidance. I want to be well disciplined & of strong will power so that I might not wander from the path before me. I want to put on blinders & to shut out the peripheral distractions. I'm so thankful for the assurance of knowing that Abba is holding the reins & is driving my life...Be Blessed!

My Heart Belongs to Daddy: Understanding God as Father

Tweet

Some years ago I was fortunate enough to meet, fall in love with, & marry my Prince Charming. Not long after I met the Lone Ranger, I lost my heart to him...but not all of it. I must admit that despite how madly in love I was (& am) with my beloved, I'd lost a good portion of my heart long before I met him. Several times in fact. Are you shocked that I'd admit such a thing?  I did not have a whole heart to offer the Lone Ranger because 3 precious men had long ago stolen pieces of it...Pap, Papaw G, & Daddy will always be co-owners of this heart of mine. These men have blessed my life beyond measure, & most important of all, they have given me understanding of & insight to God as my Father...as Abba (Hebrew expression for 'Daddy, Papa'). Each of them has played a pivotal role in my life...each displayed a quality that has allowed me to glimpse the heart of Abba & to begin to truly see myself as His Daughter...
Pap:
Just typing his name puts a smile on my face. Pap is my maternal grandfather. I want you to be able to picture him vividly...the best description I can give of my Pap is to liken him to Grumpy on Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs. Does that bring a mental image to mind? In that animated film Grumpy was well...Grumpy. He was a man of few words, hard on the surface & tender beneath. When Snow White leaned over, lifted Grumpy's hat, & kissed his head his whole face turned red, & he was helpless to suppress a smile.  That's my Pap. When I was a little girl, my cousins & I had a healthy dose of fear of Pap. He kept a flyswatter by his recliner...not just to kill flies but to swat us as we ran by. One time I was plagued by a "cough' (fake of course), & my no-nonsense Pap walked over to his medicine cabinet, took out a dreadful Halls cough drop, had me put it in my mouth, & suck on it until it was gone. No chewing it up. No spitting it out. Needless to say I never suffered from that cough again once all evening. Just like Grumpy had a tender side, so too does my Pap. I remember spending the night with Grandma & Pap. Grandma gave me a bath & then sent me to Pap with a comb in my hand. I trudged over to him, already cringing (my hair was a tangled mess from swimming in lake water), but gentle as could be Pap combed my hair. His dirt stained, rough hands held that comb & with painstaking gentleness he worked out every snag. As a little girl Pap was always kind of a mystery to me...how he could be stern & gruff one instant yet tender & thoughtful the next? I feared him, yet I admired him...I longed for his affection. I feared him, & that fear bred respect...profound respect.  Pap was consistent. Pap was firm. Wrong was wrong, right was right. He didn't compromise his standards. As an adult my respect for this precious man has only multiplied. When the Lone Ranger had dinner with my family to receive my dad's permission to marry me, Pap & Grandma happened to be there too. My dad asked the Lone Ranger questions, the kind of questions a good dad asks of a man who wants to marry his daughter. Pap sat there silent & stone faced with his arms crossed. After what seemed like an eternity to me, my dad finally gave John his blessing...Pap stayed silent. Five years later he reminded me that he'd never given us his blessing...he let me know that he was pleased with my husband. Even after all that time (& 2 babies) his approval of my marriage, of my mate, was something I yearned for. I know now that my Pap loved me enough to expect obedience of me. He loved me enough to be stern when needed. Pap had a clear view of right vs. wrong & he expected me to toe the line. Abba is the same. His word clearly defines for us do's & don'ts...rights & wrongs...& that is the expectation of His children. My Pap's tenderness nearly breaks my heart..Abba has a gentleness & sensitivity all His own...one that is a balm to my soul. My understanding of Pap began with fear...a fear of the consequence of my disobedience...that fear evolved into respect...respect for his high standard & his lack upholding of them....that respect transformed into a love so great that I often get teary eyed just looking at my precious Pap. As a young girl I called my grandfather "Grandpa'...later I called him "Papaw"...today I call him "Pap'. Even my term of endearment has become something more intimate, more special in it's reflection of the relationship we share. My relationship with Abba began the same way. In the beginning, before I truly knew Him, I feared Him...feared the consequence of my sins...that fear evolved into a respect...respect of His absolute, unwavering upholding of who He is & what He desires...that respect became love, love so great that I cannot even fathom the depth of it. As a child in faith I called Him 'God'...later I called Him 'Lord'...today I call Him 'Abba'. Because of my Pap, I better understand my Heavenly Father...
(Proverbs 9:10) "Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment."
(Acts 10:35) "In every natio he accepts those who fear him & do what is right."

Papaw G:
I'll never forget the day one of my cousins told me that my Papaw G wasn't my real grandfather. His statement, made in a fit of anger, rocked my world. I went home & asked my parents if that was true. It was that day that I learned what a stepparent was...it was that day that my admiration of my Papaw G went to a whole new level. My Grammie had 4 sons...in rapid succession (even more quickly than I've had my 3 daughters). These boys were the epitome of rambunctious, rough & tumble. They were adventure-seeking, prank-playing, caution-to-the-wind type of boys. They were a handful to put it mildly...far too much for any one person to handle...let alone a working mother. Garland Gentry worked with my Grammie. He came into her life in a moment that only Abba could orchestrate. He married my Grammie & inherited those 4 rowdy boys. My daddy was barely 4 years old when this precious man came into his life. My Papaw G raised those wild boys into good (but still rambunctious) men. He loved those boys as his own sons...indeed I think he forgot that they were not biologically his. When those boys married & began having children of their own Garland became a grandfather, Papaw G as we like to call him. Papaw G had children & grandchildren who share his DNA...but there was never an instance of distinguishing them from us. We were his family in every way that mattered. My Papaw G was the rock of our family. I'll never forget watching him in church as he sat with eyes closed, hands tapping to the music, lips singing in worship to the Lord. My Grammie was a lady of great vision, of great inner conviction & motivation...she accomplished great things...things she would never have been able to do without Papaw G. My Papaw G has been there for every great event in my life...he has been there for all of the small things that few take note of...He has been there & when it comes down to it he didn't have to be. This man stepped into a situation that was in some ways dire, he took the reins, & he molded a broken home into a family. Through his love & his investment in that family, a legacy has been born. My dad is a wonderful man because of Papaw G...I am who I am because I had a loving father...I am who I am because of Papaw G...my daughters are happy, healthy little girls who are learning to love the Lord because 1 man took on 4 rambunctious sons & loved them. He accepted them & shared all he had with them. Doesn't that sound like Abba? Through the sacrifice of His son, Abba redeemed us, & when we accept the gift of His love we become His children...heirs to His Kingdom. We become His flesh & blood...The day I discovered that Papaw G was not my dad's biological father, I discovered a love deeper than any scientific explanation...perhaps in ways more precious because there was no biological obligation to do so...He chose to love those boys...he chose to love the grandkids that followed. My Papaw G is of countless worth to me...He adopted my daddy as his own. He accepted me & offered me all the love in his heart. I am his in all the ways that matters...and he is my grandpa. From this wonderful man I can appreciate & understand a God who chose me, who loved me, & who accepted me undeserved & unmerited.
(John 1:12) "But to all who believed him & accepted him , he gave the right to become children of God"
(Romans 8:16) 'For his spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children."
(Galatians 4:4-6) "But when the right time came, God sent his son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as His very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent us the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, 'Abba, Father.'

Daddy:
I'm nearly 28 years old, & I still call him that. Age & maturity haven't made me alter the way I refer to him. You won't hear 'Father' & rarely even just plain 'Dad' from my lips...to me he will always be Daddy. "Daddy's Girl' is a phrase often used & it's an accurate one. Deep within the heart of every little girl is a innate desire to have a precious connection with her father...I'm not different. I was blessed with a wonderful dad. He was the youngest of those 4 rambunctious boys I wrote about earlier. I have a hard time even describing my dad. He never lost that childlike spirit. He still thrives on adventure. My childhood memories are filled with Daddy taking us on one adventure or another, & he wasn't the kind that would stand on the sideline & cheer us on. He was right beside us experiencing the thrill right along with us. As a young girl I was a gymnast. My dad was often at practice...sometimes not just in the stand watching but beside my coach having her show him how to help me practice at home. My dad was a hands-on kinda guy. As I grew up there were times that I pushed my dad away. If I ever was alone in a problem, it wasn't because he wasn't there, it was because I didn't draw near to him. I made choices & decisions he didn't agree with. He let me know that he expected more from me, but he also gave me the space to make my choices...& to suffer the consequences of them. Each time he made the choice to place his confidence in me once again. My daddy has always been a motivator. He has always encouraged me to seek after something & to not stop until I achieve my goal. He knows what I am capable of, & he expects me to not settle. Maybe one of the greatest things about my dad is that he lives that out. If my dad expects something of me, he expects it of himself first. When my dad turned 40 he realized he was out of shape, & he decided to do something about it. He started a diet & began running. The first day he ran half a mile & thought he was going to die. Today he does the Tough Mudder. He'll turn 50 in April, & he's in better shape than men less than half his age. I so admire this man who raised me. He has shown me unconditional love. He has taught me self motivation. He has been with me through countless trials & errors...He has forgiven me...He has believed in me & my capabilities. It is futile for me to endeavor to put into words the countless lessons this man has taught me in the last 27 years. The greatest gift of all is that he has been a visible example of God's love in my life. I can know how Abba feels about me because I know how my daddy loves me. Abba does not sit on the sidelines, He's right beside us sharing in the adventures of this life. He does not leave us alone to suffer through hardships...unless we push Him away. He knows what we are capable of, & He expects us not to settle. Abba leads by example. Abba loves us unwaveringly, unconditionally...I know this because that's how Daddy loves me.
(Jeremiah 29:11-13) "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. "They are plans for good not disaster, to give you a future & a hope. In those days when you will pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me."
(John 15:9) " I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love."

In the last few months my relationship with the Lord has deepened. It has grown in depth. These 3 men are integral to that growth. I know that there are many who are not so fortunate. I know that there are those who long for a father's love...who have a hard time understanding God because they have lacked that. My heart breaks for you...Abba's heart breaks for you, & He wants to heal that hurt. He wants to mend the wounds, to erase the scars, to be a balm to your wounded spirit. Abba wants to be the father you never had.
(Psalm 27:10) "Even if my father & my mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close."
(Psalm 68:5) 'Father to the Fatherless, defender of widows-this is God, whose dwelling is holy."
(John 14:18) "I will not abandon you as orphans-I will come to you."

To the men in my life, there are no words adequate enough to thank you for who you've been...who you have helped me to become. From the depth of my heart I adore you... To the fatherless, I am praying for your healing...I am confident of Abba's ability to be the Father you desire.  Be Blessed!

Potty Training, The Holy Spirit, & That "I Gotta Go" Feeling

Tweet

Potty Training...every mother's arch nemesis. It's a dreadful time. I had been hoping that the prior experience of potty training Goldilocks would produce a sense of confidence this next go 'round but alas it has not. Sweet & Sassy has shown all the signs of readiness to begin this wearisome, frustrating process & according to my Farmer's Almanac the time is right...and so we're giving it a shot. My second born is a hard headed, strong willed lass...qualities that are both challenging yet good, so I have been very realistic in knowing that this would not be an altogether pleasant endeavor. Day 1 I sat her on the potty as soon as she woke up & miraculously the desired result occurred in the right location. On went panties. With the timer set Sweet & Sassy sat on the potty every 20 minutes for over 2 hrs...nada. Bribery...er, rewards...are a big part of potty training so an M&M was earned for every attempt...2 for #1's & 3 for #2's. She procured a whole lot of single M&M's. After what seemed like an eternity (I felt certain that she would finally have to go)...my stubborn girl sat on the potty...sang ABC's, counted to 10, pointed out colors...zilch. Up went the panties, on went the timer, & I hurried to do what chores I could before the buzzer sounded. 'Mama, I'm wet!' Indeed she was...down her leg. I looked at the clock. It had been a whole 3 minutes since she'd sat on the potty. I remained positive...at least she knew wet panties were highly unpleasant. A new pair of panties, a mopped floor, & another attempt at trying later...'Mama, I'm wet'. This happened 3 times, & I finally threw in the towel. We'd try another day. This morning I had worked up the courage to give it another shot. As soon as Sweet & Sassy woke up, we ran to the potty...success! On went the panties & the timer. It's nearly 9:30 & as of now the score is Potty: 4 & Panties: 2...maker that Potty: 4 & Panties: 3
Sweet & Sassy is trying...really trying. She wants to be a big girl like Goldilocks. She wants to wear Minnie Mouse panties & to be diaper free. Each accident & each success gives her experience. Peepee in the panties gives her an unpleasant sensation that she wishes to avoid in the future...each peepee in the potty gives her a thrill & sense of accomplishment. In time she will learn to anticipate the oncoming event. Sweet & Sassy will learn the feeling of "I gotta go' & she'll be able to act before it happens. It's a process...it's an acquired skill...it's not instantaneous. I assure you the point of this post isn't to disgust you with tales of #1's & 2's...
Have you ever struggled with hearing Abba?  Have you ever questioned the Holy Spirit's prompting? Have you ever felt like a failure in faith because you just don't know what that feels like...or if it's just you. It's part of the Christian jargon to say 'pray about it, see what God says'...it's part of the culture to encourage believers to 'seek the Lord's will & then to trust the Holy Spirit to guide'. Have you ever envied the way certain people seem so in tune with Abba...the way they know what He wants from them. Have you ever been jealous of someone who says with utter confidence, "God laid this on my heart"?  I have. I have struggled to hear the Lord. I have been jealous of those who make it look easy. I have wished God would appear to me in a burning bush like He did for Moses. I want to hear Abba speak...I want to be sensitive to the guiding of the Holy Spirit. Today as I have been watching Sweet & Sassy learn how to go potty (on the potty), it hit me...we are in the same position she is. Just like my girl has to learn that 'I gotta go' feeling, just like she has to develop the 'knowing'...so do we have to learn to be sensitive to the Lord, so do we have to develop the 'knowing' of when He is speaking to our hearts. It's the perfect analogy (at least to my way of thinking). Let's break down the correlation:
*Step 1: Take off the Diaper & Put on the Big Girl (Boy) Panties:
The first thing I have to teach Sweet & Sassy is that it is time to grow up...it's time to take off the diaper & to put on the panties. With no prompting, encouragement, & yes tough love, she might be prone to just stay in that diaper...perhaps not forever, but far longer than she should. We are the same. We need to transition from diapers to panties or as the apostle Paul describes it, we need to start eating solid food. The first thing I would do is find a spiritual mentor...perhaps one of those people you envy & ask them to walk with you in this journey. Ask them to encourage you, to prompt you, & to hold you accountable. If it wasn't for my pushing, Sweet & Sassy wouldn't potty train...she needs my motivation, & many of us are the same way in our faith walk. We need someone to light a fire under us. The first step is to take off the diaper & put on the panties...acknowledge that change, growth, & maturity are needed in your faith.
*Step 2: Learn from the Down the Leg Accidents:
I am by no means an expert in potty training (in in a successful faith walk), but I do feel strongly that before a child can potty train, she has to experience the discomfort of an accident...of peepee down her leg. Sooner or later she gets tired of being wet,  she's grossed out by soggy panties, & she starts becoming aware of the warning signs. Have you ever experienced an accident...the peepee down the leg type of discomfort that comes from having missed an opportunity?  Has hindsight ever shown you what you missed, & you beat yourself up because you should have seen it for what it was before? It's the same concept. We miss God's prompting...we don't pay attention to His 'still small voice'...we neglect to see the red flags & attention getters trying to warn us that a God-moment is up ahead...we're oblivious to it all...until it runs down our leg, or hits us. With startling realization we become painfully aware of the missed opportunity. I think this has to happen before we can begin learning to be proactive rather than reactive. When I potty trained Goldilocks, it only took one or two 'accidents' before she realized enough was enough. She knew the icky feeling, didn't like it, & started paying attention. After that it was smooth sailing. Sweet & Sassy is totally different. She's had at least 7 accidents (including one while I was writing this post, oops), & still seems to be trying to figure it out. Sisters (Brothers), not everyone catches on as quickly as others & that's okay. Is Sweet & Sassy dumb or incapable because it's taking her longer to figure it out? Absolutely not. Is Goldilocks better because she caught on quick? No. It might take you quite a few accidents before you learn to perceive Abba's voice in time to act rather than react. The point is to learn from each accident & to become aware....no matter how long it takes.
*Step 3: Celebrate the Successes:
The first time Sweet & Sassy put peepee in the potty we had a celebration that might have given Heaven's Angels a run for their money. We cheered. We clapped. We hooped & hollered. We had a peepee parade to go flush them. We did a victory dance. We ate M&M's. We celebrated the victory. That success was short lived as two hours later an accident occurred, but we rejoiced in the win & learned from the accident. Don't be afraid to celebrate your triumphs. When you successfully hear Abba speak, when you feel the Holy Spirit's prompting in your heart, & you act accordingly then Celebrate! Rejoice! Call up your mentor & brag about it. For real. Acknowledge the growth & the progress. Be proud of it (within reason). Sweet & Sassy is a whole lot more likely to go potty on the potty again if she knows it was a big deal & that it was an awesome thing.We are a whole lot more likely to keep seeking, keep listening, if we know that there are rewards for that attentiveness.
*Step 4:  Continued Success Increases Sensitivity to the Urge:
After several successes (& accidents) it doesn't take long for a child to figure out that the celebration is more enticing than the wipe down & panty change. She begins craving the victory & in turn pays more & more attention to the "I gotta go' feeling. Initially Sweet & Sassy knows that she has to potty when her bladder is at the point of maximum capacity & it's a matter of dire urgency. As she becomes more familiar with making it to the potty in time, she'll start to realize she has to go long before it's an emergency. Goldilocks has become so in tune with the 'I gotta go' feeling that she often hurries to the potty just to tinkle. She is far more sensitive to the warning signs & is very proactive about it. Those godly people that you admire (& envy) they have developed their "I gotta go' feeling. They have become so in tune with, so aware of the Lord, that it only takes a little sensation for them to have certainty of what He is showing them. It's a developed skill. It takes time. It only comes after many many many successes. Perhaps you are in the stage of realizing Abba's voice at the very last second. Perhaps you narrowly miss the 'down the leg' sensation...persevere! Prior to this, you suffered from the accident, so you are improving. Keep practicing awareness...stay attentive...keep seeking. As you mature spiritually, you will become more & more sensitive to the Holy Spirit's urging, & you will be equipped to respond with very little prompting.
*Step 5: Don't Underestimate the Physical Signs:
With both darlings, I have talked to them about the physical sensations they might have alerting them of their need to potty. I won't go into gross details...you get it. Sometimes there are physical reactions to Abba's voice. A quickening heart beat. A flushed feeling. I've even felt like I was going to pass out a time or two. Sometimes its a pain in your gut or an anxiousness. Perhaps it's a feeling of urgency to act or speak NOW. When our hearts & minds are conscious of the Lord it's only natural that the body would be as well. Don't underestimate the physical signals.

By now you might be thinking I am mighty odd or perhaps this was the mental picture you needed to understand, but my sincere hope is that it equips you & encourages you to potty train...to develop your "I gotta go' feeling. I pray that we can hear Abba's voice, that we can feel the Holy Spirit's urging, & that we can be confident of 'going', acting, speaking, waiting, & etc. Be Blessed!

Couldn't Resist!

1 Corinthians 3:1-5

Les Miserables & Lemonade

Tweet

Years ago when the Lone Ranger & I began to talk about having children, we ascertained that for us, well girls were just out of the question. High maintenanced, dramatic, emotional, flighty...who would want to deal with all of that!? The Lone Ranger works with the family business (a farm that's existed since the Revolutionary War) so of course we would have sons who would one day take it over. Oh yes, we would have boys. Four strong, sturdy, rough & tumble, rambunctious boys. For one brief moment it occurred to us that we just might have a daughter, so we quickly set a proviso...just in case such a calamity occurred. We wanted 4 children, but if we happened to have daughters...well considering a girl's flair for dramatics...each daughter would count as 2 children. Those of you familiar with this blog know how all of those grandiose plans turned out, but for those of you reading for the first time take a look to the right side of this page. That's right, so much for sons! The Lone Ranger & I were blessed with 3 precious, beautiful, sweet, & yes dramatic daughters! Hence the reason I refer to my husband as the Lone Ranger. Our darlings have been our pride & joy from the moment they've arrived, & to tell you the truth if we had another child...well, we'd both say we wouldn't mind another little lady. (That was not an announcement of an impending addition) When we discovered that our first child was a daughter, well we were stupefied for a bit, but after recovering from the shock we began plotting plans for parenting. Two more girls made their way into our hearts & home & suddenly we were the parents of 3 darlings. I've always had a little trouble with jealousy, but I never fathomed who my rivals would truly be! The term "Daddy's Girl" is quite the understatement in our home. Needless to say that it is quite a daunting task my husband faces...to woo 4 women each & every day. One thing that we learned very quickly was that little girls are truly women in tiny bodies.
It will come as no surprise that with all of the estrogen in the air & the demand for our Prince Charming, that mommy seldom has him all to herself. In a wonderful turn of events, my mother-in-love suggested to the Lone Ranger that she keep the girls so that we might go to the movies. Let me tell you that in our home we get to watch precious little if it's not animated or princess related. I was ecstatic. I'd been secretly pining to see Les Mis, & we also happened to have a gift card to the theater (we've been hoarding it for nearly a year) so our date would be virtually free! All day I planned my outfit & anticipated the evening ahead...I was plum giddy! The Lone Ranger came home early, & off we went. We grabbed a quick bite to eat at our favorite date night spot (Sonic, not even joking), & headed to the movies. We bought our favorite candy & headed to the ticket counter. "2 for Les Mis, please" we sang out, grinning at each other as we handed over our treasured gift card. The worker swiped the card, told us which theater the movie would be in, & told us what time the movie began. That little tidbit was what brought our movie night to a screeching halt. It was 6:30...she said the movie didn't begin until 8:00. It was a 3 hour movie...on a Thursday evening...We back pedaled & asked her to repeat the start time. Our grins disappeared as we looked at one another. There was no way we could stay out that late. Our darlings would need to get to bed, there was work in the morning...the worker kindly replaced the money to our card, & we dejectedly walked out of the theater. We maintained composure until we were back in the car, but then we erupted. "What in the world were they thinking?!", "Who goes to a 3 hour movie at 8:00 on a weeknight?!"...well you can imagine. A few minutes later, tempers beginning to wane, silence ensued. Frustrated & disappointed, we did the only thing we could do...we ripped open our candy & began to devour it. It wasn't long until our ire wore off, & we realized that despite not getting to see Les Mis, we were still on a date. We meandered our way home, put on our pjs, cuddled up on the couch, watched The Cosby Show, & finished up what remained of our movie candy. By the time the darlings came home, we were relaxed, refreshed, & more in love than ever. It was the kind of scenario that results in cutesy sayings. "Make Lemonade out of Lemons", "Blessing in Disguise", & so on. My daddy says, "The only difference between a good day & a bad day is your attitude."
I'd be lying if I said I didn't find such adages mildly annoying, but the truth is that they are right. Our lives will hold countless ups & downs. We'll endure many trials & tribulations. We will suffer through rough times, some of our own making & some not. Regardless of how good or righteous we are that is our lot, & we can do little else but walk through those times as gracefully as possible...but we can, we truly can, determine the way in which we respond to unpleasant events. We can make lemonade out of lemons. We can decide to  see blessings rather than curses. We can make any day a good day. The story I shared, & the frustration it evoked is nothing compared to the inconceivable pains & losses people endure. People endure illness, suffer sorrows, & walk through very troubling obstacles...but even in those dire moments we can choose to walk with grace...to walk in grace...to respond in a way that glorifies Abba. My heart breaks for those who are suffering even at this very moment, but my hope is to encourage...for you to know that you are not alone. You have a Father who loves you, who wants to carry you through these times, who wants to be your strength in the midst of weakness....that is powerful. When I was younger & bemoaning the countless injustices all teenagers face, my parents would often say, "Remember there is always some one, somewhere, whose troubles are far worse than yours." I didn't want to hear that of course, but it did cause me to put my woes into perspective. So often we are brought down & hung up by troubles that truly do not merit such angst. If we curse every mishap, bemoan every 'bad day'...well we'd seldom see any reason for joy. We have the ability to be positive & optimistic. We have the capacity for making lemonade out of lemons. Les Miserables can certainly be an accurate description if we do not see the blessings in disguise...if we become wall flowers in our own pity parties. The other night was a reminder to me of how supremely blessed I am...movie night or not. Les Mis or the Cosby show. Stylish outfit or fleece pajamas. That night was a chance to reconnect with my beloved...to be the center of his attention...to rejuvenate...it was a blessing...& in hindsight it was even better than if we had gotten to see that movie.

May Abba bless you...may He provide you the strength & insight to make Lemonade, to count blessings, & to change your attitude (if needed).   :o)  Be Blessed!

New Year's Eve & My Big Pity Party

Tweet

Last night the Lone Ranger & I tucked the Darlings into bed...just like usual. Afterwards we snuggled up on the couch with Belles & Whistles to watch reruns of The Cosby Show...just like usual. A little after 9:00 p.m. I headed to bed...just as usual. My head hit the pillow, my eyes closed, & my mind began to wander...just like usual. What was unusual was that it was New Year's Eve. While many were out & about ringing in the New Year, I was snoozing. For the last week I have been in a mild funk. This year we had no plans...none whatsoever. There was no fun evening out to look forward to...no dressy outfit to pick out...no friends to celebrate with...no midnight kiss. (You'd better be feeling sorry for me) I was surely having a pity party as my bottom lip stuck out (learned that from the darlings), I flipped my pillow to cold cold side, & rolled over (that sometimes helps shut down my racing thoughts) when all of a sudden a light came on (in my mind, not the room)...
All week & for several prior, I have been in that funk...with no idea why. It was not so long ago that New Year's Eve & countless other events were ones that I eagerly anticipated, but suddenly they seemed to be just another day, & that kinda bummed me out...until Abba turned the light on. The pastor of my church has been teaching for quite some time now about the difference between Chronos time & Kairos time.  Both are Greek words for time, but their meanings are vastly different. Chronos is where we derive our word 'chronologically'. It's the marking of time by minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years, & etc. Kairos is 'the appointed time in the purpose of God."  It is the moments when Abba breaks through the mundane rut of our everyday lives, & reveals Himself to us. Aristotle said that Kairos is the context in which 'proof is delivered.'  These times are ones that we often chalk up to obstacles, trials, & tribulations...we neglect to see them for what they are...opportunities to see into Abba's heart. Kairos moments are God's endeavors to awaken us...to remove the focus from ourselves & to return it to Him. They are important events that end one season & begin another...spiritually. They are life altering & faith changing...when we acknowledge them for what they are.
Back to my point...these teachings have resounded deep within me. They have created a desire I never knew existed...the yearning to mark time by something more profound than days, months, & years. Abba has faithfully begun revealing the Kairos moments of my life...Last night as I was in the midst of my pity party, I suddenly knew why New Year's Eve & other events have become less significant...less fulfilling...Abba had given me the desire of my heart & had transformed my thinking. Somewhere along the way I have ceased marking time chronologically. Days, months, weeks, & years. Holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, & etc will always be important, but compared to Kairos moments...times when God breaks into my rut & reveals Himself to me...well those are the moments I now live for. My big pity party was suddenly over when I realized how amazingly cool it was to be functioning on a different wavelength...the one my Abba functions on. I awoke this morning to a new year, but more importantly I awoke transformed by a kairos moment, having experienced Abba change my 'stinking thinking' & reveal His heart to me. Each chronological day is an opportunity to deepen our relationship with the Lord & with others...each moment in a chance to allow Him to break into my life in order to draw me nearer to Him. This revelation has ended my funk...busted my pity party...and ignited an excitement for this new year & the kairos moments that are to come. I wanted to share my kairos moment with you on this first day of the new year. My heart & prayer is that beginning today, you too can mark the moments of your lives by far more than time, but by the God appointed, break through moments.
Be Blessed & Happy New Year!