Housework, Homework, Hospitals and Baseball

That's what I have been up to lately.  Easter came and went and never had time to post.  My theme song this year was Mandisa "Not Guilty" I have sang thru this song so many times that my kids are now going around singing it.  School has been really tuff this semester.  It has been especially hard because my husband's grandmother, who I call Grandma, has been in the hospital for 6 weeks an hour a way.  We have been driving back and forth to go and see her, because she does not like to be by herself.  She is so very sick, but simply is not ready to give up fighting.

I did not sing in the church cantata this year because I simply could not make choir practice regularly enough.  They did a beautiful job though.  It was different to be on the listening side and not on the singing side of it.  I got to sit back and enjoy all the music and not worry about when to come in or where the key change is.  I got to really listen to the words.

 Baseball season has started too and with two playing, it is almost every night.  This week we had 2 practices on Monday night, a game on Tuesday, church on Wednesday, 2 practices on Thursdays, a game on Friday and a game on Saturday.  YIKES!

Proverbs 31

Most of you probably know that Proverbs 31 was written as an acrostic poem.  If you didn't or aren't sure what that means, let me explain.  An acrostic poem is one where each line starts with each letter of the alphabet.  So in the original Hebrew the poem was written in alphabetical order with each line starting with the next letter.  I am going to be teaching a class soon on the Proverbs 31 woman, which is a little out of character for me, but I am excited about it.  I have decided that I am going to make a handout that has an alphabetical list of Character Traits of a Godly Wife with verses to back up each as part of the lesson.  When I am finished I will post it and share with all two of my readers, : ) !

As I have been studying, I have been thinking about the fact that the Ideal Wife poem in Proverbs 31 was written by a woman.  I had always when I was younger been frustrated by this unobtainable "perfect woman" that was written by one of those "men of the Bible."  Only it wasn't, it was taught to King Lemuel by his MOTHER!  She was telling him how to choose his wife, saying this is the kind of wife you want, look for these qualities.  That is why the high standards!!  Don't we all want the best for our sons?  But would she have written it if she thought it was unobtainable?  I don't think so.  She just set the mark high.  No lazy girls.  No un-godly girls.  No gossiping, disrespectful girls for her son.  She wanted her son to be respected at the city gates, because he had a wife who was respectable.  I think this is every mothers hope for her sons.

Things I learned from my Grandad

My dear sweet grandfather, whose health has been failing for quite a while, went home to be with the Lord in the wee hours of the morning on Wednesday.  He was a World War 2 vet and could tell some stories about the war, the Great Depression, and so much more that he had done and seen in his life.  He was an awesome, Christian man.  The only example that I had growing up of what Christianity was supossed to look like and his faith is one of the big things that helped me to seek out a church as an adult.  So here is a list of a few things my Grandaddy taught me.

Start everyday with excercise. Always eat eggs for breakfast. Pray everyday. It's okay to run in the house and slide across the coffee table. All you need to take care of your teeth is some peroxide and baking soda. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Sunday's are for the Lord - Go to Worship and take a rest, never plow the field. Always pay your tithe. Keep your money matters private, don't tell how much you make or ask someone else what they make or what they paid for something. Buckle your seatbelt. Ice cream is essential for proper nutrition - eat it daily! Love your family.   Marriage is a lifetime commitment - Be loyal to your mate.  Don't talk back. Ride a bike. Steal a kiss from your spouse when the children aren't looking.  Play some basketball. Tell stories. Watch Westerns. When it is too loud, turn your hearing aid down.  If it's still too loud, turn it off.  Be generous. Use your resources wisely. Go out and LIVE your life.  And most important of all, honor God in all things.

In memory of Jack Graves

12/12/1918 - 2/8/2012

New Year's Resolutions

I don't usually make New Year's resolutions, but I think more in terms of a yearly focus.  A couple years ago, for example, my focus was the word obedience and I meditated and studied on that word that word that year.  What it meant to be obedient to God, to my husband, even to my boss, etc.  This year I want to challenge my self in the area of home, the first part of this will be doing  "31 Days to Clean - Having a Martha House the Mary Way"  The first day for me is today and the first challenge is to write out the reasons why you want to have a clean house and to come up with a mission statement of sorts.  This has really taken some thinking.  I finally deciding on this:  I want my home to be inviting, comfortable and warm for my husband, family, friends and myself to enjoy.  Seems almost too simple but I think it covers it perfectly. Right now, my home is not any of those things.

Also, Revive Our Hearts today, had a wonderful challenge for the new year -- to be in The Word every day.  I do this pretty well, most of the time, but thought this is a great time to renew that commitment.  I know that my commitment to stay in God's word daily is what keeps me going.

My Headcoverings, A White Christmas and Other Ponderings

This is Christmas Eve.  Last night, was a mad dash to the store to get a few grocery staples we were low on while the crowds were low.  I happened to run into my mother and my step-father.  I don't see them very often.     I knew that I would be seeing them on Sunday afternoon for Christmas and that they would see me with my head covered for the first time.  So I got only my second negative reaction to my headscarf since I have began wearing it.  I just chose to ignore my step-father and continue my conversation with my mother.  I am sure, he will have more to say when I go to the family gathering on Sunday and have one on then as well, because it will be after church.  With that being said and a little sadness that my relationship with my parents can't be more open.  I have had almost all positive responses to my headcoverings and most importantly I know that I am doing the right thing and I am settled in my spirit.  There is, also, something about that extra step of getting ready to pray by putting on the headcovering that reminds me of who I am talking to and keeps me in humility I guess.  I am starting to leave the headcovering on more of the time instead of taking off after prayer or after church.  In the beginning, I was putting on and taking off several times a day.  Now I usually, put it on for morning devotions and take it off before work though I have worn it to work several times as well.  Then I put it back on when I come home for afternoon devotions and it stays on until bed time.  Keeping my head covered  takes the focus off of my super long hair which gets a lot of attention.  So the thing that I fought for so long, I am now praising God for giving to me.

As I am writing this, this morning I am listening to Christmas music on American Family Radio and watching the snow come down.  It is very rare to see snow in West Texas and even rarer to see a white Christmas.  My children are bouncing around with excitement for the snow.  There is something magical and beautiful about a white Christmas.  The snow blankets everything and makes it look beautiful and clean and white.  Even our West Texas dirt and blowing trash.  That is just what Jesus does for us, He throws His white blanket of purity over us and even though we are full of dirt and sometimes garbage blows through, His righteousness makes us clean.  What a beautiful gift He gives to us, it is the gift of being able to stand in the judgement as clean and righteous though we are undeserving, because He covers us.  Jesus is definitely the best gift of Christmas!

So, no matter what the family stresses are or how many gifts you have under the tree or where you live  or rather or not it is covered in snow or full of palm trees, I hope that you take the time the Christmas to remember the gift that matters most is Jesus and share Him and His love with others.

CHRIST-mas is here!

With all the business that has been surrounding me in the past few months, I have not had much time to post.  But I simply could not let Christmas slip by without sharing a little bit about how me and my family celebrate the special day.  First, I grew up with a mother who was very into Santa Claus and Rudolf and making the day oh so merry and bright!  We had very fun Christmas, full of family and presents and games and food and friends and parties and music, but I had no idea what the meaning of Christmas was when I was a child.

When I grew up, I was not a Christian and I started the tradition of Santa Claus and Rudolf and merriment.  Then I became a Christian and Christmas took on a new meaning for me.  Over the years, it has become more and more important, that my children know what Christmas is really about.  I do not want them to remember the day that Santa came and brought presents.  Though we do still exchange gifts.  I don't want it to be about the music, though we certainly sing songs.  I have made a very concentrated effort to be sure that my children know that Christmas is about Christ.

My children get three gifts on Christmas. We decided on that number, because that is how many Jesus received.  No, they do not get gold, myrrh and frankincense, but pajamas, clothes and a toy or game.  We read the Christmas story together as a family and discuss it in the weeks leading up to Christmas.  We sing meaningful Christmas carols and hymns.  We even move on to talk about what Jesus did after he was born.  His birth is important because it leads to His death, to our salvation.  This is the joy of Christmas that God loved the world so much that He gave the best gift of all, the gift of eternal life, the gift of His Son, Immanuel, God with Us.

Have a Blessed and Wonderful Christmas!

With Love,
Stacy 

Those We Love the Most

Isn't it amazing that those we love the most are the ones we hurt the most?  I am recovering from a bruised heart and a broken friendship that had been built up over many years.  I do not know if my relationship with my friend will ever completely recover.  It is not really anything I did, but something she did that caused it, so it is out of my control.  I can forgive, and I can move on, but rebuilding trust takes a long time.  What if I can't look at her the same again?

What if God held my next sin over me like that?  I am bound to sin, most likely by the end of the day.  Probably by the end of the hour.  I will do something that will be vulgar and repulsive in the eyes of the Lord.  What if He looked on me and said, "How can I forgive her again?"  Why do we as people think we have the right to decide who we give forgive to and when?  God says, "Forgive as I have forgiven you." 

So can I forgive her and still not speak to her any more??  I just want to be mad for a little while.  Maybe that is not the right spirit.  Maybe that is a sinful spirit, so what now?  Sometimes the answers just don't come and those friends you gave your heart to, let you down.  And it is a good reminder that people fail, only God is perfect.