Up the Hill

A few weeks ago, Robbie and I spent a beautiful afternoon at the park with our three girls. The park we were playing is at the base of a bridge with a dock that goes around under the bridge. And on the embankment is concrete. We took the girls to walk on the dock and of course when they saw the "hill" they wanted to climb. And of course daddy said yes! I stood at the base of the embankment yelling, "Hold Daddy's hand! Don't let go!" You know, the stuff mommy's say. The embankment was steep and they had a hard time climbing but they kept on. It was a beautiful picture of a daddy's love and protection and also of a daddy's desire for his children to push themselves and experience more out of life.



I did not think of that much until I read this devotion a few days later:

"You have been on a long, uphill journey, and your energy is almost spent. Though you have faltered at times, you have not let go of My hand. I am pleased with your desire to stay close to me..." (Jesus Calling by Sarah Young)

After reading this, the picture of Robbie on the hill came to my mind. If one of the girls had faltered on their climb, would he have turned to them and punished them? If they had mis-stepped, would he have left them there to fend for themselves? No!! He would have bent down and scooped them up. He would have directed their step to a better footing.

Jesus said "So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him." (Luke 11:13)

Our Heavenly Father loves us more than anything we know. He wants us to climb higher. He wants us to stretch further. AND He wants to hold our hand as we do these things, knowing that we could never reach and stretch without the safety of those loving hands. And when we get out of step or fall we only need to reach for His Hand to guide us to the right step.

I must get back to writing...

I absolutley love writing. It is therapy for my soul. It clears the thoughts in my mind. But, alas, I have not been writing. There has been so much going on that has preoccupied my mind, the last thing I have energy for is to clear my mind. Kind of funny how life is sometimes...The very thing that I need is the very thing that is so elusive.

How to Become a Foster Parent

Florida is in desperate need of Christian foster parents. There are so many in the system, the children become numbers. As Christians, we can stand up for the voiceless and participate in rescuing children from a life of abuse and/or neglect.

I recommend getting involved with FUMCH-Florida United Methodist Children's Home. They are a faith based organization and understand the power of prayer. Their number is 386-668-4774. When you call them ask for Foster Care and then tell them you want to become a foster parent. It really is that easy to get started.
In order to become a foster parent, it is required that you have a 30 hour parenting class called MAPP-Method Approach to partnership in Parenting. They are offered in various different places and are all generally the same class. If you take a MAPP class with one agency it does not mean you have to be licensed with that agency.
During this class,you will be fingerprinted and background checked. They will also do a homestudy, which is required for ALL adoptions, domestic and international.

It costs NOTHING!

Navigating the foster care system can be very difficult because of the acronyms and inside lingo, as well as the agencies that are involved. Here is a brief summary.
The state agency for foster care is Department of Children and Families (DCF). They are the state covering, responsible for all children in foster care in the State of Florida. There are then two divisions to the responsibilities of foster care. The first is what is locally know as Community Partnership for Children (CPC). This organization is the one that comes in and investigates or removes children from their homes. Community Partnership for Children manages protective services, foster care and adoption services for Volusia, Flagler and Putnam Counties. There are currently 1,200 local abused and neglected children, in these three counties alone. The second arm of foster care are the licensing agencies. These are private agencies that are responsible for providing foster families. They train and educate the foster families. We are licensed by Florida United Methodist Children's Home (FUMCH), because they are the only faith based organization and they see foster care as a mission, not just a job!!

When someone is licensed, what happens then? They are considered a professional parent by the state of Florida and are then able to foster or adopt

Where do kids come from? Kids are brought into the system by the investigating agency (CPC), after there have been specific reasons for removal. they then put a call into ALL of the licensing agencies in the area (I think there are 4 in our area). Whoever calls them with the first available home is placed with that family.

How do they get to you? The licensing agency, in our case FUMCH, calls you and tells you as much as they know and/or you want to know about the child(ren). They will then bring them to you or you can pick them up.

Can you just get licensed and then wait a while before accepting a placement, or must (should?) you accept the first? This is a question that pertains to whatever licensing agency you are with. We received a call and were asked to pray about it before we accepted it. We were given two days to pray about it. Some other foster families I know, who work with other licensing agents, have said that they were told they must take every child that they were called to get. That is not the case with us. Also during the homestudy process, you can be VERY specific about what fits best with your family. We requested only preschool aged girls.

Pure Religion

The orphans from Haiti are arriving in the United States these next few weeks. Some have already been in the adoption process, only waiting for paperwork to be united with their forever family. While others will be coming with no one to call home. They will be in group homes or foster homes. In Florida, there is already a desperate need for foster homes, so the influx of more children will be a strain on the already strained system.

And this is where God's people step in. It is very clear in scripture that this is pure religion in the sight of God, taking care of the widows and orphans, James1:27. If we, who are called by His name, do not step in the gap to help the afflicted and orphaned, who will?

I hear people say, but I am not qualified or I am afraid or how will it affect our lives or our children...
I struggled with this idea myself as I tried to discern the desire to adopt. We had three beautiful boys and we were very content with our life. Yet there was a nagging pressure that I could not get rid of. The desire was ever before me. I wrestled with God, questioning His, dare I say, wisdom. I wondered how it would affect my children, how it would affect my marriage, how it would effect our general way of life. And then, in my limited thinking, I thought that this had to be some desire that was caused from some abstract hole in my life. But I soon realized this was from God. I asked Him, Is it wrong to want to help these orphans? And the answer came to me, How could it be wrong? How can something pure and undefiled be wrong in God's eyes. It can't!

It changed our life, but sometimes that is a good thing. It affected our children, in many ways. Now they know the plight of the orphans. They understand child abuse can change a child's life forever. They understand that patience is needed with people because one never knows another's story until they lived it. They have a deeper understanding of how prayer changes things. They understand teamwork. They are also learning a few parenting skills along the way.

In our marriage, we have learned that we are a great team when we work together. We have learned to be patient with each other. I have learned to love my husband more. When I watch him sit down and read a book to them or when he fixes Summer's hair with tenderness, I fall in love him all over again.

With me personally, I have learned to rely on God. My faith has grown deeper because I have seen His hand work in my children's lives.

I hear people say, but I am not qualified or I am afraid or how will it affect our lives or our children...
God does not require perfection only obedience. He knows we will mess up and yet He still loves us. AND he loves our children even more than we could!!

Being a foster/adoptive parent is the hardest thing I have ever done. But most things worth doing are! We have questioned our sanity at times, but then realized we would not be sane without our children!

The Pursuit of Perfection

The pursuit of perfection is all around us. Everywhere you turn, the TV or magazine ads promise perfection if you buy their product, or do this. Our American dream is saturated with this idea of perfection. We pursue it, often at great detriment to our own well-being and health. How many times have we uttered the phrase, "I could have done that better", never delighting in the accomplishment for what it is worth.

I have come to this realization, pursuing perfection is a trap. We have bought into the lie. Hook, line and sinker. Not only have we bought, there are some who will defend this as the right thing. Claiming it as a christian virtue.

In my opinion, pursuing perfection is a form of idolatry. The bible is clear, if we pursue something other than God, we are pursuing a false god. And how clever of the enemy to dangle this idea of perfection, as if it were even attainable. And when we fail, we beat ourselves up because we have somehow let God down. Throughout scripture God makes it very clear, we are not saved or made whole by our own might and strength, but only through the grace of God. It is only when we acknowledge our human condition of fallibility, that we become free to be the creature God designed us to be, which is closer to perfection that we could ever do on our own accord. God is wonderful like that!

With perfection there is no room for grace, but only frustration and tension. We will always mess up, but when we turn to God and allow him to work through us and in us, we begin to to see his perfection of design!

Here I sit in the dark on Thanksgiving eve, nursing my brand new gift from God. I am overwhelmed with thanksgiving. I gaze down at this precious child and tears well up in my eyes. For some reason, God has blessed me again. I am so thankful for being a woman. I get to have a new life develop inside my body and then I get to give birth to this new life and then I get to sustain this life at my bosom. How utterly amazing is that! And that is only the beggining of this great journey of motherhood!

5 Ways to be Miserable

Here is a video that I loved.

5 Ways to be Miserable

Things your Pastor's Wife wants to say but doesn't...

I have been thinking about this post for a while. I have meet many pastors wives and read many blogs. This list is not complete and is not all from me. It is somethings I am giving voice too. So here it is:

Things your Pastor's Wife wants to say but doesn't:

1. Please don't call around 6 pm (dinner time) unless it is a real emergency. See #2
   
2. A real emergency is not: a funny joke you heard about a preacher, a rabbi, and a priest..., we have probably heard it before; to ask where that scripture is, google it!;
3. Please do not discipline our children, unless you are in a close relationship with them, ie, Sunday School teacher. You may know them, but it does not mean they know you.
4. We are at church a lot, Tues-Prayer Group, Wed-Bible Study, Thurs-Choir or Children's group, Friday-Youth Group or Fill-in-the-blank, Sat-Church, Sun-Church, am & pm. So if you see our kids playing outside when they are "supposed" to be in church, it's OK! They have been here a lot this week.
5. The pastor is not perfect. This may be a no-brainer for some but some need to hear this. There have been many times women have approached saying how lucky I am to be married to him. My first reaction is "HA!" He is a great guy, mind you, but he is NOT perfect. He still forgets things and he is still human! But on the other hand...see #6
6. He is still my husband. There have also been people who have approached me complaining that he did something that offended them or did not do something correctly. I want to say "Do you understand, he is my husband!" Don't complain to me about him, I may hurt you!!
7. Do not be offended if I do not wave or smile or other such nicety to you when I am out and about. Chances are I did not see you, or I was distracted by taking care of my children, my primary priority!
8. Please do not jump on me when I first walk into church on Sunday morning. Remember while my husband was at church early this morning, I was getting all the children ready by myself along with trying to get ready as well. Some mornings do not go smoothly, give me a minute!
   
9. Sometimes we, as in our family, have crises also! We do not like to announce this to the whole church. So do not be offended because we did not "confide" in you.
10. Sometimes the best thing to do for your pastor and his family is to pray for them. I am incredibly grateful for the prayers of God's people!
    

Assumptions

My uncle used to have a saying. He would say, " Do you know what assuming does? It makes an ASS out of U and ME!" I never forgot that!

When someone assumes anything, aren't they in effect judging. Or better yet putting themselves in a position of ultimate knowledge about all things, which is arrogance. And what does the bible say about those things? I think we all know.

So the next time you think you know exactly what is going on, take a moment before you ASSume anything!!

Thanks!

Everything is Amazing, nobody is happy

My doctor told me about this video and I loved it!

Everything is Amazing, nobody is Happy...

I know, I know...

I have not written in a while. I have been very sick. Not to worry I am on the mend. Will get back to blogging soon.

Heard this song on the Radio and had to share. I LOVE IT!

Francesca Battistelli- Free to Be Me

At twenty years of age I'm still looking for a dream
A war's already waged for my destiny
But you've already won the battle
And you've got great plans for me
Though I can't always see

'cause I got a couple dents in my fender
got a couple rips in my jeans
Try to fit the pieces together
But perfection is my enemy
On my own I'm so clumsy
But on your shoulders I can see
I'm free to be me

When I was just a girl I thought I had it figured out
My life would turn out right, and I'd make it here somehow
But things don't always come that easy
And sometimes I would doubt

And you're free to be you

Sometimes I believe that I can do anything
Yet other times I think I've got nothing to bring
But you look at my heart and you tell me
That I've got all you seek
And it's easy to believe
Even thought

Unconventional Methods

I love the story of David and Goliath. I guess because it is a story about the underdog winning. But when you look carefully at the story, new things pop up.

I have always loved the idea that David had this tremendous amount of faith that Goliath would be defeated. But he still understood that he had to throw the stone for God to give him victory. And then the whole idea that he knew that God was on his side and yet he picked up 5 stones, just in case the first four did not hit his target.

But something hit me with this story again this past week. When David went to Saul to tell Saul he was going to defeat Goliath, Saul dressed him in his battle armor, the traditional gear to go into battle. But it did not fit, so David took it off. He went into battle without armor, he was vulnerable. And yet God protected him, he came out of the battle completely unscathed and victorious.

Isn't that just like God to do things the EXACT opposite way we think it should be done? When everyone else is telling us to do it "this" way, but God says do it "that" way, it seems silly and foolish. He uses the simple to confound the wise and the weak to confound the mighty (1 Cor 1:27). He asks us to do things that seem counter intuitive. But yet it works. Or more importantly HE works. I love that about God!

Thought for the Day!

"The most beautiful roses take a lot of crap." - Christie O'Brien

Do you have it all together?

There are so many times I have heard women utter these words, "I just don't have it all together." or "If I could just get it all together." I really cringe when I hear these words. Because I have heard this term, all together, applied to me. (Yes, I know, some of you that really know me are laughing your butts off right now!)

NEWSFLASH! NO ONE HAS IT ALL TOGETHER! IT IS A LIE!

I often say that anyone who tells you, they it all together, is only trying to sell you something. When we think everyone else has it all together there is a huge burden placed on us. We become the only one. We become isolated, because we don't have it all together.

I think if we, as christians, would come to understand this one idea, there would be freedom. There would be life! Because life is all about experimenting. Some things work and we revel in it. But some things don't work as expected and it is then we must move on and learn.

Here is my analogy: Because I learn so much from my children it is from them that I have learned this idea. I watch my girls playing in the stream of water coming out of the faucet. They are fascinated by this. It never fails, they always try to grab the stream. And no matter how hard they grab at it, they are never able to catch this bubbling liquid that flows so freely. I can see the concentration in their eyes, they are quite intense. But the difference comes in their reaction. One becomes frustrated and starts yelling out. But the other one, she enjoys the feeling of the water flowing over her hands and then she sticks her head under neath the faucet. Somehow in her two-year old mind she understands it is not to hold in her hand, but to enjoy it as it passes through her fingers!

To me that is the perfect picture of this idea. We can cry and pout about not being able to hold onto everything. Or we can figure out new ways to enjoy life!

Somethings never change!

The national budget must be balanced. The public debt must be reduced; the arrogance of the authorities must be moderated and controlled. Payments to foreign governments must be reduced, if the nation doesn't want to go bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance.

Cicero, 55 BC
Roman author, orator, & politician (106 BC - 43 BC)

Christmas Season is over..now I must blog!

The Christmas season is over so I must get back to real life, which of course includes blogging. There have been so many things that I have thought would be a great blog post, but of course I have quickly forgotten all of them.

We had a wonderful Christmas! For quite a few years I have really dreaded the holiday season, but I have seen a shift in my attitude. The main shift has been a conscious decision not to worry about what should be and instead being content with what is. It is a constant decision and not one that comes easy! Funny how that seems to be!

The Star

Psalm 19:1-2-"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge."

We watched The Star of Bethlehem movie last night at church. I am again amazed at the wonder of God. For those who have not seen it, there is man that has made it his mission to explain the Star of Bethlehem. What impacted me was that God set the stars in motion at the beginning of creation with the thought of Christ's birth and resurrection. He set the stars in the sky to ring out the birth of His son before he even created man. And He also set into motion the heavens to mourn his death.

My God has created all things to proclaim His glory. And it is when we deviate from that plan that there is pain and suffering. But those who are called by His name and bear His Spirit in our very being can no more ignore His glory than change the course of the stars in the sky. We and all of creation bear the very fingerprint of God and we have only to open our eyes and see His majesty! My God is more, so much more than I could ever dream or imagine. I wish I had the words to express the greatness of Him!

The Tie that Binds!

(This post came out of my group of beautiful ladies that pray on Tuesday nights. They encouraged me through a minor thing, but gave me inspiration to write this. We have cried and laughed a BUNCH these past four years. Sharing in each others joys and sharing each others pain. You give me wings and strength and courage and I thank you!)gcmsd

There have been many people who share their stories with Robbie and I over these past few years and we are amazed at the amount of pain that people carry with them through life. There is a common thread through many of these people. Many say the same thing, or a variation of the same sentiment, "I thought I was alone in the pain." "Everyone else seems to have it all together." "I am the only one who feels this way." And it has occurred to me that we all walk around with these burdens thinking we are isolated, but yet everyone we come into contact with has another burden, it may not be identical to the one you are carrying, but it still produces the same byproduct... pain.

How clever of the enemy, if he can convince us that we are "the only one", then we are vulnerable to his attacks. And our goal becomes only to keep it a secret, and we will do anything to protect the image of "all-togetherness" for the sake of being "just like everyone else." What a ruse, a scam, a mirage? What ever you call it, it is a lie!

What if the very thing the enemy meant to make us weak is the very thing that makes us strong? What if the common thread became "I understand your pain because I have pain as well? It is the human condition to know pain. And it is the tie that binds us all. If we come together sharing each others burdens we know we are not alone and that gives us strength.

So I will ask the question again, What if the very thing the enemy meant to make us weak is the very thing that makes us strong?

(Please post a comment because I feel like I am talking to myself here! Kind of like being all alone!! :)

Best Thanksgiving yet!

I have to say that I had the best Thanksgiving yet! We, actually my mom and mother-in-law, decided to do things casual this year. A few people made the usual turkey and ham. Everyone brought a simple side dish. And we went to the park and had sandwiches at the park. We played the traditional tennis baseball, a game that evolved over the past few years. You use a tennis racket and a tennis ball and then you run around the bases, like baseball. Adults must use the opposite hand to make it fair. And then we came to the house and the men got to watch their football game. It was simple and full of family fun, just the way I like it!