I bought this framed cross-stich in the back of Marshalls, under a bunch of stuff, on the clearance shelf. Every rule listed here I have broken. Repeatedly. Yet, I badly want to embody these so that they'll happen in my life, instinctively. Because they hang in my living room, I get to have them--in my face--every single day. And that's OK. They are worth being reminded of.
Back in 1997, when God moved me away from Chicago, He did it by luring me to a place that I saw as nothing less than paradise: Florida! (Although I would eventually learn God wanted me here for a greater purpose) I came because I fell in love with things--that to this day--I am still in love with! When it comes to Florida, I love its: palm trees, sunrises, sunsets, Hibiscus, Bougainvilleas, ocean horizons & tropical & marine wildlife. Soooo....what do you love about where you live?
LOVE IS NOT A FEELING:
Today, I heard someone casually say, "Oh my God." And as casual as she was---was as stunned as I was. If we use 'God' often but it's not always in the context of referencing His Holy Name, I thought I'd throw out a few alternatives, in the event that any of us were shoppin' around for some. There's...
This is a snapshot of one of our mornings this week. School started back & I was on a mission to have some kind of order in the mornings. This pic captured a moment of thankful order: after brushing their teeth, combing their hair & getting dressed, they sat on the couch, drank their smoothies & watched Arthur. What cracked me up about this seemingly orderly pic was the dog sitting in between them. I guess to watch Arthur too? Crazy dog.
And [Heather is learning] that God causes EVERYTHING [Heather's needs, wants, joys, tears, goals, fears, trials, confusions, successes, defeats, strengths, weaknesses, hurts, healing, ups, downs, goods & bads] TO WORK TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD of [Heather] who loves God & is called according to his purpose for [her]. Romans 8:28
Though some have WAY more than others, everybody has SOMETHING that grosses them out. That's why gross iPhone apps like, "Would You Rather" are popular. So today, how 'bout I tell you what grosses me out & you tell me what grosses you out & let's get grossed out together. The photo, here, is a hint as to what grosses me out, but just in case, I'll leave my answer in the comments for ya...
I've never asked this before, but what are some things we can talk about, here, on this crazy blog? For the most part, I wait until the evening to write because I hope by then, God will have laid something on my heart. But it'd be cool to open it up to some brainstorming. If you have an idea, just click on the word "Comments Here" at the bottom of this post & let your fingers do the typing. And if nobody comments? Well then don't I look like the big dork in this picture to your left? ;)
"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed." (Psalm 34:18) During tough times in my life, I have really blown it. But one thing I have done (& still do) is find a verse & cling to it. I can't tell you how important it is to find something GOD SAID & use it to HOLD ONTO. Like a buoy tossed to me in rough waters, the verses I've clung to have nearly saved me. The easiest way to do this is: FIND a bible (or online bible) that has a concordance or topical index. DETERMINE the word that best describes your struggle; SKIM the verses that coincide with it; PICK the verse that precisely meets you were you are; and CLING to it. I pray this is a help to someone, somewhere, today.
#2 - We also erected what I call "The Lil Man's Hall of Fame." Earlier this summer, my boys attended my Grandma's Art School, Kaleidoscope, in Chicago for a week. We were so proud of them--their willingness to try & their willinginess to fail forward--that we had all FIVE of their masterpieces professionally framed, mounted & hung in their hallway:
I walked outside & saw this very misplaced cactus. Why was a cactus randomly sticking out of our landscaping? I started with 2 obvious culprits...my kids. DJ immediately owned it. He said that when he was riding his bike, he saw that someone on our street had thrown away a cactus. So he picked it up & carried it (Ouch?!) back home & planted it where you see it. Maybe you have felt like this cactus. Somebody tossed you out. I remember in 3rd grade, a group of girls came up to me & said, "Heather, we've decided we're throwing you away in the trash can." Confused, I asked, "But why?" The ring leader said, "Because you're trash & we don't want to be friends with you any more." But what someone saw as trash, DJ saw as treasure. You've heard that adage before. And so have I. But when I saw how my son saved the cactus, the adage became personal. You see, DJ carried a cactus with large prickers down the street--surely enduring a lil pain. But that didn't stop him. He did what he had to do to save a cactus--a treasure worth his pain. And God sent his only son, Jesus, to do what He had to do to save you--a treasure totally worth His pain (& death). Perhaps, along the way, you were someones trash. But perhaps it's a blessing. Because you gained the opportunity to be picked up by Jesus, be His treasure & one day, be taken Home too.
This summer, my lil mans stayed home with me. Stretched to find things to do on rainy days, we became good buds with a certain lil duo named "Phineas and Ferb." This show is hysterical, creative, has VERY good song writers (a little "Ants in my Pants" & "Backyard Beach" anyone?) & for us, it's age appropriate. Another dimension I've really grown to appreciate is that it is just as entertaining to me! Especially Candace, the big bossy sister, who I totally identify with! Alls I'm sayin is in our home? We are holding out for 2 things: a Phineas & Ferb Disney ride & a Phineas & Ferb 3D on the big screen!
Today, while reading John 13, something jumped off the page, into my heart & shook me up. Jesus--knowing Judas would betray him--washed his feet anyway. Wow. With a dazed & dumbfounded look on my face, I stared at John 13 thinking, "Jesus didn't have to wash Judas' feet. I mean, only moments later, Jesus would dismiss Judas from the table so he could begin backstabbing Jesus!" Yet Jesus washed his feet. Now, I wash my boys' feet & I could see myself washing my friends feet & I might wash a stranger's feet. BUT if I have the slightest resistance to washing someone's feet who hurt me, well then, Houston? We have a problem. And the problem is in my heart. Do we have a heart that could wash the feet of ANYONE? If not...we can ask God to give us a heart that would.
The executive creative director for J.Crew gave Oprah three savvy but attainable fashion tips. I thought these were so good, I had to share them:
Today, I sorted through countless Wal-mart bags of school supplies & like a good mommy, put my boy's names on EVERYTHING with a Sharpie marker. Including a lil stack of Post-It notes. Don't you wish you invented the Post-It note? What a simple invention that somebody chillin' on some private island is making BANK on right now! But let's run with its simple concept...Today, if all you had was one Post-It note, what prayer would you put on it? I'll answer by leaving a comment & you can too!
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