Mornings

My sweet nephew Micah...

Mornings... you either hate them, or you love them... and it's a feeling that changes with every morning. For instance... my alarm clock rings Monday through Friday at the same time, 6 am. I set it, to make sure my daughters have set theirs... they are 14 and 16, usually they are up on time, but there are those occasional mornings when their alarm has not gone off. If one of them has asked me to fix their lunch the day before, or another special request, I usually comply... I mean after all, I am the Mom, right? But, back to mornings... today it is my car pool turn to take the girls in, so I did it, rushing back to laundry (this is always the case, or so it seems) and whole list of "things to do TODAY". I'm going through my list, wondering "how in the heck, am I going to get all of this done", when I hear a little voice in my head calling me Martha... the story of Martha and Mary came to me... take some time out to sit down and pray, pray for your family, pray for your friends... pray... So of course I turned on some worship music (currently it is the Michael W. Smith, A New Hallelujah CD). My morning perspective changes... in fact, just sitting with God and talking to Him, changes so much on how I am viewing my day. I am learning that just by acknowledging the day and thanking Him for it, no matter what it brings, can bring such peace. I know that He has created me for this day... and I will try to do my best to make Him proud of me. I feel sorry for those who can not sit down, wait... those who don't want to sit down (I mean it is a choice right?) with the Lord and just enjoy His presence. I mean, goodness, no one love you more than He does... and to let a minute go by without knowing it, is a total waste of time... and the waste of a perfectly good day :c) All I have is from Him... and I am nothing without Him... and realizing this... makes my mornings and the whole day a very special day! His Grace will shine on me every morning, every day, every minute... His love is reflected in the palm of my Savior's hands... things I will not take for granted, but hold preciously close to my heart and to who I am. If you are reading this... take some time out... spend it with the One who loves you the most... and is the very reason you are alive at this moment!

Memory, A Leaving Poem

Mom's lilies that come up every Spring.


Christie is becoming our little poet. When we knew that my Mom had only a few short days left on this earth, my sisters came to Houston to spend those days with her and help me with her care. Looking back, it was probably a few of the most memorable days of my life so far. God taught me so much about my Mom, about my sisters... and about my family. The weeks up to my Mom's death was hard and very busy... she went from bad to worse... and like I said... it was hard. My sweet husband and precious daughters were there to help out as well. Kevin would play his guitar for her, the girls would help rub her head and her back... etc. On July 31st, Kevin and I took Kim (youngest sis) and her small kids and my daughters to Sea World, while my sister Linda, stayed with Mom. Linda is an RN, and when we returned very late, she told us that Mom didn't have much longer. So Linda, Kim, Christie and I sat in Mom's room, talking about the "old days", our childhood, just having some fun. Christie was busy under my Mom's hospital bed writing away... this is what she wrote:

Memory,
A Leaving Poem

by Christie Andersen

If God would give you one more day,
I think I would use that chance and say,
How much in my heart you mean to me,
Before you had to get up and leave

I’ll miss you more than anything,
But I’ll see you again dancing with my King.
You will dwell in my memory,
And in my heart is where you’ll be.

There are billions of people living here,
None of which I hold as dear.
Forgetting anything you’ve done wrong,
You’ll be in Heaven where you belong.

I’ll remember your laugh and smile,
The way the baking plans would pile.
The sewing machine stitching,
Wild jokes pitching
Cards flying, fun never dying

Now I see lying there,
Drifting into Jesus’ care.
Everything will be okay;
We’ll see each other again someday.

Distractions...

I really wish I was more dedicated to this blog stuff... I have tons of thoughts that I want to share, but basically, I think I am either too lazy or just don't have the time to keep up with it... or I get distracted... which leads me to today's post.

"Distraction is the diversion of attention of an individual or group from the chosen object of attention onto the source of distraction. (I hate definitions... so I was distracted while reading it... do you see the irony? even this is a distraction!) Distraction is caused by one of the following: lack of ability to pay attention (hello! me!) ; lack of interest in the object of attention; greater interest in something other than the object of attention; or the great intensity, novelty or attractiveness of something other than the object of attention." That's Webster's definition of distraction, but my version... and how it applies to me... "Distraction is Satan's attempt to keep me from learning what God is trying to teach me, attempt to keep me OUT of my quiet time, attempt to keep me from the Bible, and my willingness to allow it." Simply put... I absolutely HATE distractions! Funny, even as I am typing this, the buzzer of the dryer goes off, the phone rings, my "Absolutely HAS to be Done Today" to do list falls off the desk, Michael W. Smith's "A New Hallelujah" CD is playing... and of course you have to sing with that... yep, distractions! I am determined to finish this though...

Last Sunday was my day of distractions... Kevin leads worship for our church, so he leaves earlier than I do. I always stop by Starbucks to get coffee for him, our dear friends Walt and Rebecca and myself (occasionally a carmel whatever it's called for Christie). After getting to church I realized they messed up the order... so I had to drive back to Starbucks to get it right... after all, I have to have coffee to start the day... as I was driving back (three minutes away) I realized I was MISSING my worship time by doing this. Sure, I enjoy having coffee in the morning, but it can not replace coming face to face with my God during worship! I hurried and exchanged the coffees and got back... but a distraction from worship had occured. When I got back, worship was still going on (Thank you Lord!) In the middle of it, Kevin's string to his guitar breaks... distraction, then the other guitar player's string breaks... Distraction. Then, while our Pastor was teaching... people were getting up and going to the bathroom and passing in front of our Pastor... there are back doors that lead to the restrooms, but for some reason they chose the front. Not just one person, but several and even though I am sure it was very unintentional... it was a distraction from God's Word... a couple had a toddler in the front row (yes, we have a nursery... really nice one too) who was throwing her toys, bottles, whatever she could throw to get them to retrieve (we have all played this game once)... she had them trained... DISTRACTION! Finally, our Pastor also was tired of the distractions and dealt with them... in the middle of the service. See how all of that works... the enemy really does not want us to know God... especially in an intimate way.

You know... but the enemy has been defeated... I have decided to turn these distractions around to work for God, not the enemy. In everything, God is present, whether it be a distraction or anything else... God is present. I need to stop, listen and pray... whether it is for myself, a friend or for the person causing the distraction. I feel that if I turn it around to a praying time or praising time... the enemy has been defeated. I guess I could have called this blog a distraction as well, but I am choosing not to :c) It feels good to be able to say what's on my mind and what God is teaching me, and I am thankful for those who read it and leave comments. I hope it isn't distracting you from your time with our Lord. If it is... please stop and find your Bible... that's the place we all need to be... sitting at His feet, is where we should want to be... at home when we are with Him... renewed by His grace (Michael W. Smith is singing this on the CD, but how appropriate eh?) Have a great week, may it be filled with only His distractions!

Even in the Simplest Things

My friend Shonni had a really sweet post about praying that God gives us eyes to see.... who to pray for, how to pray, etc. Then I went to Chris Tomlin's concert and he challenged people in the same way... so, I have been praying the same prayer too. It really has "opened my eyes" not just to what I know God wants me to see and what He wants me to learn, but it also has changed my perspective in so many ways. Every morning that I awake... I believe... that if I am alive in this day that the Lord has made, then it is with purpose and with meaning... I don't for a second believe that this world was created by chance, nor anyone in this world was either. I don't believe that in coincidences... or chance, I believe in a Mighty God that weaves paths and pieces lives together to serve mighty purposes... to heal hearts... to serve what ever purpose it needs to at that time.

My sweet, sweet friend Shonni shared a story on her blog... if I knew how to link you there... I would do that, but you should just check out her blog, because everything she shares in it is from her heart and her sweet spirit... she is an amazing lady with a heart for the orphans of the world... actually, her whole family is like that... amazing people... http://nationsaroundourtable.blogspot.com/ Shonni was in the hospital waiting for her mother who was in surgery for her leg, when she noticed a couple whose grandson had hung himself and wasn't going to be with them for very long... she started to talk to them and then... long story short... prayed for them... in the waiting room. I thought to myself... what a beautiful story...not just that by Shonni's obedience to God to pray for the family that may or may not be believers was such a witness to them, but to also her own children... because when we train them up according to the way they should go (in God's Word)... we should be teaching them this.

So... I have been praying for the same opportunity... lesson 1... don't pray for something if you really don't want it to happen ... LOLOL! This meant... if someone pulled out in front of me while driving... pray for them... bad service at the mall... still smile... for the person living on the street... the list goes on. I found you have to be in constant prayer just to hear what God wants you to do... what He wants you to see. I was filling my van with gas... at a Shell station of course... thanking God that my husband has a great job with this company and that I am able to fill the 20 gallon gas guzzler (actually not that bad... it is a Honda after all) when a man pulled in to the tank next to mine. My daughter and her friend were in the back of the van, listening to Switchfoot very loudly. I could tell that the man was very troubled. He started to talk to me and tell me that his grandmother had just died and he drove here for her funeral. Someone had booked him a room in the hotel across the street and used a credit card that did not work. He was $11.68 short and needed to get home as well. I normally do not carry cash with me, but happened to have $20 in my pocket. I rarely ever give money to someone on the street because in Houston, this happens a lot and you don't know if they really need it or not... but I heard God tell me to give it to him, but to also pray with him. As I gave the money to him, he said "I don't know how to thank you", and I told him not to. Then I really feel that it was the Holy Spirit who was telling me to tell him to "Don't thank me, I believe in a God that I know is watching out for you and your daugther (she was in the car with him). I believe He brought you here, knowing that I have this money in my pocket and that I am able to give it to you. I believe in a loving God, who loves you and your family, no matter what you are going through right now... I believe in your heart, you know that too. If you want to be thankful, then to everyone you see today, tell then what God has done for you." We prayed. It was very simple, because God is SO simple in His love for us. He does not make it complicated... because He wants everyone to know that He has defeated all things, everyone deserves compassion... everyone is forgiven... everyone is loved by Him. His love rains down on us all the time... not when we feel like it. I remembered that I had more money in my wallet and turned to get it... when I turned back around, he was gone. I looked up and down the street, but didn't see him. We are talking seconds... I jumped into the van and started to look for him when I heard God say to me, "I brought him here for what he needed at this minute... I will provide for him for the rest of his trip." How simple, again, was that? I have been in reflection about what God has planned for us... do we miss it sometime because we are so caught up in ourselves, in our own lives? Even when we are hurting... God uses everyday experiences to heal us. He lifts us up so that we can lift others up. How awesome is our God? Even when we are not hurting, when our days are so doggone fantastic, I think that is when we don't hear Him the most... because we are caught up in our own lives... Take the challenge... how do you see things? How does God want you to see things? How do you see God? How do you see our Father, His Son, His Spirit? Hmmm... how is your life? Is there a void? "Healing Rain is falling down... I'm not afraid"

By the way, the pictures are from a Mission Trip in 2007... please pray for the one coming up in 2009, that we would not be afraid to pray for those who need prayer... again... simple!

Random Picture Post

Now for the picture fun!
11th folder
or
September 2007
11th picture

I opted for the 11th folder and 11th picture. This is a picture of my sister Kim, and her son, Micah, watching the water skiers at Seaworld. It was a really fun day! It was also the day before my Mom passed away with lung cancer, so it brought back some bittersweet memories :c)

A Mother's Love

My daughters continue to amaze me daily in everything they do. Kevin and I are very blessed to have daughters that seek God daily and love Him with all of their heart. We go through the same things all parents go through with their kids... and if there is one place that is the hardest place to live your Christian life... it's at home. I mean face it, we all know that we are not perfect, but we all know that we have a Creator that loves us so much and shows us grace and mercy. My girls try their hardest to show God's love to their friends at school and at church... and by praying for them. They are very talented girls too. Christie loves to write poetry and this week I am going to try to display some of it daily. I hope you like it as much as I love it!

A Tear For Dawn

A masterpiece beyond all compare,

Beautiful majesty and undying care

For each stroke of color and sight

The lovely warmth of dawn’s morning light.

Overshadowed by sleepy eyes

Of coffee brewing and baby cries.

No thoughts of the warmth, our thoughts are cold

Wondering how the day's events will unfold.

The sun grows higher in the sky

followed by birds starting to fly.

Still we don't stop to stare up above,

At the celestial embodiment of hope and love.

Never a time where one stops to think

of the watercolors red, orange, yellow and pink

Of the giant canvas painting in the morning,

At least not yet, but we’re still learning.

Random Picture Challenge

Okay... how fun is this... sometimes we forget about certain pictures... and thanks to Shonni, who found this challenge through another friend and shared it...here is a neat way to help re-discover those pictures! There are 2 ways to pick your random picture this week so more of you can play along. March 2008, 5th picture from the end
or 10th picture folder 5th picture from the end. This picture is from my 10th March folder and is the 5th picture in that folder..

This is Danielle at Galveston... we went to the Moody Gardens over Spring Break and HAD to visit the beach!