Doubting Doubts - Crossroads

I FINALLY had a day at home to crawl around on hands and knees and scrub and clean all those hidden nooks and crannies - trimmed a few weeds and now am preparing to head to church.

While cleaning I re-listened to the past 3 weekends of the Doubting Doubts series.

It's been great so far.   The idea that it's not a sin to doubt has resinated with everyone I've talked to.

My church experience growing up was loving but made us feel guilty about everything we did wrong, even guilty about doubting anything that was being said.  I'm so thankful for freedom from that guilt now and look forward to learning more this weekend!

Don't let the Mother's Day celebrations keep you away, bring everyone with you and we'll see you at Crossroads!

grateful to our veterans

I have an afternoon today, for the first time I can remember to just work at home. So I decided it was a perfect time to review some new music for Christmas while I worked. I've fallen in love with the version of Silent Night my daughter showed me yesterday, it's by a group called Future of Forestry.


Recently I emptied my entire attic and purged nearly everything. One thing I didn't get rid of were my frames, and of course my framed pictures that weren't currently hanging or sitting in our home. I probably had 40 of various sizes.


So today I decided to sort the frames, label the tubs and get those sorted correctly. Within these frames were both original art as well as photography that I count precious of our kids, weddings and distant relatives.


As I worked the wind picked up outside and the flag flapping widely caught my eye. I couldn't stop watching it fly against the nearly artificial looking beauty of the fall. It caused me to draw in a grateful breath and just watch, just pause, just take it in.




Immediately I thought of our dear Veterans, and their selfless sacrifice for my freedom and was filled with such gratitude. These amazing veterans are the reason I can sit hear listening to whatever I want to, to praise my Lord out loud for all to hear and to worship anywhere I choose.


I thank you all sincerely and I pray that you'll draw close to the Lord on this special day and know He understands sacrifice and loves you!

grateful to our veterans

I have an afternoon today, for the first time I can remember to just work at home. So I decided it was a perfect time to review some new music for Christmas while I worked. I've fallen in love with the version of Silent Night my daughter showed me yesterday, it's by a group called Future of Forestry.


Recently I emptied my entire attic and purged nearly everything. One thing I didn't get rid of were my frames, and of course my framed pictures that weren't currently hanging or sitting in our home. I probably had 40 of various sizes.


So today I decided to sort the frames, label the tubs and get those sorted correctly. Within these frames were both original art as well as photography that I count precious, our kids, weddings and distant relatives.


As I worked the wind picked up outside and the flag flapping widely caught my eye. I couldn't stop watching it fly against the nearly artificial looking beauty of the fall. It caused me to draw in a grateful breath and just watch, just pause, just take it in.




Immediately I thought of our dear Veterans, and their selfless sacrifice for my freedom and was filled with such gratitude. These amazing veterans are the reason I can sit hear listening to whatever I want to, to praise my Lord out loud for all to hear and to worship anywhere I choose.


I thank you all sincerely and I pray that you'll draw close to the Lord on this special day and know He understands sacrifice and loves you!

wading through stuff

Yesterday I cleaned my house and we hosted the last official Young Married's Group at our home.  (although we do life with these couples so all it changed is a regular monthly study)

This change was necessary because my hubby's been asked to launch men's groups this Fall at Crossroads -so we had to eliminate something to make room for more.

I was thinking about how full my house is and made the comment to my hubby that I would be content never to move again…the thought of packing is overwhelming!

Over the 4th of July holiday we spent time with my parents in Ashland - and went to an auction.  I love seeing what people are selling and this sale was a 2-household sale.  There was tons of stuff!

This is a shot looking down just 1 of probably 20 tables of stuff..  

Although we have more than we need - I really think the only things I have boxed up are some dishes of Ron's grandparents and my kids old toys/school books.  We try really hard not to buy stuff that just gets put in closets, boxes or not used.  Even so, we have too much!

I wondered how the people who's stuff was for sale, could have this much extra that family didn't take? It looked more like a 5 family sale.

If we could take all the stuff that accumulates in our homes that we have no need for, sell it and use it to bless others - what clean houses we would have and what a blessing to our families some day that won't have to deal with all our stuff.

I've also been working this morning at cleaning out my email.   I can't even guess how many emails  I get each day… it requires regular housekeeping too.  Gee, I wonder why we're all so stressed all the time!  We're surrounded by things that need care - things that need cleaned - and things that need discarded.  Certainly not a simple life.

Well, I'm finished wading through my stuff for another day - I'll turn my eyes toward the weekend and the privilege once again to lead at Crossroads!  See you all there!

my dad's bedroom

Today I had the privilege of serving my parents by cleaning their house.

Mom's recovery is going excellent - but, she's still supposed to not lift or bend down as much as possible.  So, in order for them to host all of us on New Year's I went to clean for them.

I recently showed pictures on facebook of one of their Bible's and how worn out it was - but this time I found something on dad's night stand that represents his lifetime priorities more than nearly anything else.

Remember these (for those of you who grew up in the church)?  His offering envelopes.

Dad's Bible and Offering Envelopes

I NEVER heard he or mom complain about giving to the church growing up.  Even on the weeks that I heard them quietly discussing which bill to pay and which to make a partial payment on.  It was always given cheerfully, it was always a commitment and it was always top priority.

Now that our son and daughter-in-law have a baby, I have heard them voice their concern about teaching their son how to be obedient and grow up well.

Thinking about the most important things to consider in raising a child in the way they should go, number 1 is of course to model what you believe and introduce them to Christ.  No empty words spoken by parents that don't live what they teach will ever influence a child, except perhaps to confuse them and frustrate them ultimately leading to a life of disobedience and heartache.

And perhaps no area of obedience is more important than to demonstrate to them how to honor God with their finances and priorities.


My parents never had a college education, never had jobs considered by people to be extraordinary, but all their work, and their giving and their investments are eternal investments - their reward awaits them in heaven!  And their legacy will far outlive them!

deconstruct

In order to clean you have to take things out, deconstruct.

As I took dishes from my cabinets today to clean and to eliminate unused dishes, I thought back over the last few weekends' teachings from Ephesians. The teachings were powerful words from God.

Deconstruction/Reconstruction.

First you empty it all out and clean it, then you fill it back up...with the right stuff, only with the necessary things.

Much like my house, my life is sometimes full of too much stuff. This does not allow enough room for the right things. How sad it must make my God when there is no room for him in my days full of stuff... I will continue my cleaning in more ways than one.