Echoing Themes...Yes, Lord, I Am Listening

I have noticed over the last few months that one of ways the Lord speaks to me is through repeated themes. I posted on here earlier about how the story of Joseph became a focus in several aspects of my life:  book club, personal book study, youth trip...that's when I began to slow down and wait on Him.  Or could it be that I have to hear something several times, be totally immersed within a topic before I clearly learn what He's teaching me?  Or am I just continually being taught to wait...and listen...and pray...and read...and wait.

My Newest Theme

It's happening again...this time with the word story.  I noticed it at last month's WMU meeting when I opened our periodical and read The Story Lives On, WMU's theme for this year. In BIG letters.  As if a voice said, "Tammy, I need your attention."  Now, that may not be that grand within itself...although I sure felt the effect of the words, except...please read on...this wording echoes so closely the theme in my English 11 classes that we had had begun the week before...Everyone Has a Story:  What's Yours?  I actually did a double-take, for I had just been absorbed in the echo of the story of Joseph and the pit and becoming familiar with the echo of His voice, teaching me more about Him, teaching me more about myself.  Was a new emphasis starting?  Hummm....

Then, at the WMU breakfast hosted by our church's association group, I listened as Kaye Miller, a former president of WMU and a resident of our state, discuss this theme, stating again that everyone has a story, everyone has a testimony.  I so enjoyed listening to her story, of her being raised in Thailand and the loss and regaining of her friend there.  (Yes, I later bought her book Called to Love:  Stories of Compassion, Faith, and God's Amazing Grace, just waiting on Amazon to deliver it to my door!)

This "story" continued last week, as I was perusing the books at Wal-Mart, there, just released, was Jodi Picoult's new novel The Storyteller.  I read the back cover and decided to buy it...full price...brand new.  (This is something I rarely do...always looking for a bargain on half.com...or I choose to wait until book's price drops.)  I have not had a chance to read this novel, but I am bumping to my next read.  That's right...should our Lord want to speak to me via this book, I want to hear/read what he has to say! (Click here to read, in the author's voice, why she wrote The Storyteller.)

Tonight, we had our monthly WMU meeting and were blessed to hear the story of an 83-year-old Christian lady share her testimony and her love for our Lord and Savior, concluding her time by reading a poem that she had written just for tonight's event.  (By the way, she is participating in the MyOneWord Challenge...her word is joyous, and I do believe that the Lord is honoring her word!)

Just as the meeting concluded, I recommended another person to tell her story next month.  These testimonies...or stories....are such a blessing.  The Lord did bless us with vocal cords, a tongue, lips...yes, he meant for us to use them for Him!

Am I Crazy?

Maybe.  Crazy for Him!  While He chooses to speak to me this manner, I will listen, learn, and grow.  Should He choose to never to speak to me again in quite this way, I am blessed for these two experiences, and, therefore, I encourage you to pause and become more in tune with topics you hear and see being repeated within your life. A reason may exist, a Heavenly reason, for this repetition occurring.  You will know, for that still, small voice still speaks to you...and to me.

Blessings!

THE Lawn Mower...Tractor!

Here's just another example of how God works...but, first, a bit of background info...

Late last summer our John Deer lawn mower quit.  Just like that.  No more.  One could hardly blame it, as we thanked it for the fourteen years of service in mowing our ten acre yard (at least) and for the many steps it saved The Hubby as his personal ride up and down the shooting range and such.

As spring began to spring, we chatted about options, for the grass...and weeds, especially...did not cease to grow nor mourn the loss of that previous family member.  Thus, we thanked Mother Nature via the Good Lord for those extra cold days, as we determined what next mower might join our Gillmore Farm Family.

John Deere?  Bad Boy?  Kubota?  A new model?  A used model?

Finally, I reminded the hubby, "You just pray.  Every time you have made a big purchase, God has given you a great deal that you knew was the right one for you."

Yesterday, a used Kubota tractor...not just a lawn mower...but a tractor!...joined our family...and the Lord blessed us tremendously with an awesome deal that only He could have arranged.  The Hubby has been playing...ooppps, I mean mowing!  :)  Proud he is of the new big boy toy.  Proud I am of the nicely mown lawn.  A win-win for everyone!

This week,we were reminded that God's Time is simply that:  His Timing is perfect.  Sometimes...okay, nearly always...we have to wait, as He teaches us lessons and then blesses us for that wait time.  Yes, "they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength."  I invite you to enjoy His Strength.  He will be there for you...just wait.

A "Fit"ing Update

I just read a post by Rachel Olsen (co-author of MyOneWord), who reported she did not choose her MyOneWord until the end of January, a word that does not seem to have "sizzle."  Yes, I feel that way about my word fit, also.

Unlike Ms. Rachel, I knew my word back in December, yet it was a word that I wanted to keep quiet, for becoming fit means admitting that I am not...fit, which I am not.  No wonder God gave me this word!

When I chose the word, I knew I wanted to become more than physically fit (without having too many fits along the way!); I needed to be more mentally, emotionally, and, most importantly, physically fit.  Here's how  we (God and myself) have begun...

• Physically:  With a push from friends and family, I made an appointment with our family doctor for a much-needed physical and with my OBGYN for that female visit.  The first one I have accomplished with interesting results.  All my numbers are normal, except calcium.  Really?  ADMISSION OF GUILT:  I do not take vitamins.  I know...I should.  Except for calcium because one of the calcium numbers were high.  Not good.  This could mean that I have a tumor on a thyroid gland.  Back to the doctor I will go in two weeks for this number to be reassessed. MORE NEWS.  I finally lost two pounds.  That felt so good.  I want to loose two more.  Then two more!  Now, to get those hormone levels checked...have not had any since my hysterectomy several years ago.  
• Mentally:  My brain.  What I learned when researching the above additional calcium is that too much can affect concentration.  OR that just might be an excuse!  Seriously, though, here I see myself reading more of the books I purchase.  I have written elsewhere about my book addiction (sorry, can admit it; just not ready to give it up...)  Reading more...professional books, fun books...exploring new genres.
• Emotionally:  Very mixed is what they are.  Too much!  I also learned that this can be a side effect of the above excess calcium.  Thinking I may have found the excuse for all things negative in my life!  Maybe the key here to access my previous two MyOneWords:  peace and quiet.  And breathing.  And praying more. I am beginning to think that all four aspects of MyOneWord "fit" together...yes, pun intended.
• Spiritually:  I really like from where my spiritual life has journeyed and to where it is headed.  I enjoy leading our Sunday evening class, for this focus insists that I remain centered, if not on a daily basis, then, at least, on this weekly basis.  Also,we are so blessed to have our current interim pastor and his wife.  True blessings to our church family, my family, and me.  Both are so knowledgeable, so full of energy, such true leaders.  Around them, I am a sponge, soaking up all I can.  A sponge that does not want to rung out, either!

Does my word sizzle?  No.  My word is a life-style change.  A very good thing.

A New Word?

On Saturday, with a peer/friend teacher, I attended the Arkansas Teachers for National Board Certification Conference.  One of the guest speakers was the Arkansas Milken Award winner (very interesting lady, originally from Hungary).  She shared a new word with us:  frienemies, as is a friend who is also your enemy.  Sounds like an oxymoron. 

This word gave me pause. Am I a frienemy?  Do I have frienemies?

A frienemy is one who, when you are exceeding, is jealous.  A frienemy is one who would keep one from excelling, again due to jealousy. (I just googled this frienemy...here are the results.)

The presenter shared that she had peers that did not like her because her principal often used her work as an example.  She admitted, "I probably would not like it if I kept hearing another teacher's name over and over, either.  So part of me understands."  That other part of her had to be hurt.

Maybe my conscience was pricked.  Maybe the Christian in me perked up.  I do not want to be a frienemy, nor do I want to associate with such people.

But...can such people really be avoided?  No.  The lesson, thus, to myself is to be more aware of such instances, both when my old nature insists that this characteristic attempt to emerge its ugly head and when other friends adopt that split personality.

This might be an interesting word to share with my students, although chances are they have already heard of this trendy word!  Empowerment comes with understanding (education), though;  this might save some of them some heartache down life's road.

This reminds me of a quote my husband has often shared with me:  The enemy of my enemy is my friend.  

This term, then, is not a new concept, even going back to Bible times.  Consider this from Psalms  55:

If an enemy were insulting me,
    I could endure it;
if a foe were rising against me,
    I could hide.
¹³ But it is you, a man like myself,
    my companion, my close friend,
¹⁴ with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship
    at the house of God,
as we walked about
    among the worshipers.

Thus, as I sit here and reflect, a frienemy is a hurtful person, one I am sure I have been, one I will attempt to not be.  No, I do not want to share personal examples!  

Here's to friends and to a new saying:  A friend of my friend is not enemy of mine.

SSMT: Verse 2

One day late, I am for selecting my verse for the Siesta Scripture Memory Team's Week 2 Sign-up.  I have been looking, thinking, reading, but scripture was THE one. Until today.  When after reading several scriptures and studying various Christian books and then praying (which I should have done first!), I found the scripture...well, actually, scriptures...for the next two weeks' focus:  James 1:25.

Some background...I began Kelly Minter's study of the book of Nehemiah last summer and did not finish it.  Then, over the last few days, this book came back on my mind, so today I finally picked it up and began right where I left off.  Amazing! Amazing grace!  Only God knows the very thoughts that I was having just this very evening and right here on the pages, as I began to read, it was as if Kelly was sitting in my living room chatting with me about my very concerns!  God is good, and, oh, so mindful.

My scripture emphasis for the next two weeks are these, with verse 25 my chosen one to memorize (maybe all of them?  I will have to get back with you about that in a couple of weeks...):  

James 1   ²² Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. ²³ Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror ²⁴ and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ²⁵ But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

The Personal Response for the above scripture was this:  If you need to make changes in you life, write about them below.  Know that, in the name of James, you will be blessed.

This, then, reminded me of  MyOneWord for 2013: fit.  Here are the changes I want to make...

• Spiritually fit:  read the Bible more and ever learn more about Him
• Physically fit:  loose weight, exercise, get that cardio up
• Mentally fit:  memorize scriptures, keep learning
• Emotionally fit:obtain peace at work and let the anger issues go

Becoming fit would allow me to be an even better Christian, a better wife, mom, teacher, friend.  I really believe that the scriptures that God will lead me to for the SSMT will also be the ones that assist in my becoming more fit for Him.  That, my friends, is just how He works, or, in the words of James, that is just how He will bless.

The Pit: Digging In or Lifted Out?

Throughout the Christmas season, I was involved in two events that centered around Joseph from the Old Testament.  First, we took our church youth to see Joseph in Branson (so good!), and then our school book club chose Richard Paul Evan's novel A Winter Dream as its December read.  I remember commenting then to a friend that God must surely be wanting be to learn something from this story.

Then, last night as I was driving home after dropping off The Daughter at play practice, Beth Moore's book Get out of the Pit came on my mind.  I had purchased this book some time ago, started it, then put it aside...for a season, I suppose.  For a reason, I know.

When I got home, I pulled it off shelf and began reading it.  The season is my life is now right for the message of this book, and now I will read it for a reason.

One, of several, statements that spoke to me so specifically was..."On any path we can spin our wheels and throw mud until we dig a ditch right in the middle of an otherwise decent job or relationship."  So true.

Has it occurred to you that maybe a pit is one place where you're not supposed to be content?  Maybe you thank God you're not.  Some things weren't meant to be accepted. (page 8)

Last night was just an epiphany for me.  One hates admitting defeat and conceding this pit of mine seemed like another failure.  Paradoxically, it also felt so liberating, especially as the words on this page began to speak to my soul.

More on this to come...

On another note, I wrote last week and asked God,  "Lord, please help me to help myself to become fit in all areas of my life to be a better Christian, a better mom, a better wife, a better teacher, better in all areas for You. Amen."

He is already answering that prayer!  Not in the way I had planned. On two nights, I sat and felt flutters in my chest area; then, on Sunday morning, my heart began beating at a much faster pace, thumping loudly in my ears.  Scared me!  As I began to get ready for church, the reason came to me.  The Lord was answering my prayer!  What better motive for me to get in shape, to get more fit than to scare me with physical  heart concerns?   Lord, I am listening!  Now eating better, drinking more water, going to bed earlier.  Now, just got to get this body moving down that road outside my house...the very inspiration for this blog!

SSMT: Year 2

I participated in the Siesta Scripture Memory Team last year...well, kind of, sort of.  I had great intentions, so here I go again, whether I memorize one verse or 24, any is better than I know now.

This challenge is hosted by Living Proof Ministries and Beth Moore and her team. For more information, you may go here, read the directions, and sign up!

My Verse #1:  

• So teach us to number our days, that we may present to you a heart of wisdom. Psalms 90:12  (NASB)

What does this verse mean to me?  We are to appreciate, respect, live each hour, day, week, for no matter how many we have, they should all be lived for Him, for in living in such a manner, I may develop wisdom, a gift I so earnestly seek.

Wisdom.  I specifically prayed for wisdom the other day in raising my children.  These teenage years are much more difficult than babyhood!

Honestly?  I have not prayed enough for wisdom.  With this scripture, I begin to pray more for it in all aspects of my life:  work, family, church, friends.  If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him. James 1: 5  

What else might I obtain from this memory verse?  A teacher, I become the student in this verse, for I ask Him to "teach" me.  As I look back over 2012, I realize that He has been teaching me to number my days.  My mom eased into Heaven last January.  A close friend moved four hours away.  The year ended with my father-in-law in the hospital recovering from a minor stroke.  I am learning, Lord.

Part of me wants to say, "Lord, I just want to be present.  I am not looking for stars in my crown, a mansion on the hilltop, or a heart that is better than anyone else's.  I just want to be there."

Then, another part of me says, "Lord, I want to present to You whatever You ask.  If David says this important, then this is important."

One way I want to become more aware of my numbered days in my life is by becoming more "fit," which is MyOneWord for 2013, fit spiritually, physically, emotionally, mentally, for myself, for my family, for my students, for my Christian walk.

Here is my prayer:  "Lord, please help me to help myself to become fit in all areas of my life to be a better Christian, a better mom, a better wife, a better teacher, better in all areas for You. Amen."