Beautiful Delores and the shivering man

James 1:19-27

New International Version (NIV)

Listening and Doing

¹⁹ My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, ²⁰ because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. ²¹ Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
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.
²⁶ Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. ²⁷ Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.





The other morning I woke up and felt as if God were telling me to read the book of James. So I did, and several parts stood out.. The part about doing what the word says rather than simply talking about it.  The other part that stood out was the verse about caring for orphans and widows.

I realized after I read that verse, that I hadn't been to the nursing home in quite a while. I visit on occassion. The nursing home is filled with widows. If you want to find a place of suffering and despair, visit your local nursing home.

Several months earlier, the boys and I had gone and met some really amazing people. I met a dear lady who was so upset that her family didn't come see her at Christmas. I asked her if she needed anything, and she asked for honeybuns and new batteries for her hearing aid.
So the boys and I went to the store and fulfilled her request.

We also met a wonderful lady named Delores. She doted after Cade, telling me how handsome he was. She was so lonely that she didn't want us to leave.

This time around, I picked up some more honeybuns. I planned to give them to old friend and I planned on chatting with Delores.

When I got there, I went to drop off the honeybuns and say hello..only (and forgive me I can't remember her name :(  , but she wasn't there. Someone else had moved into her bed. I had a sinking feeling and I was too afraid to ask what happened to her.

We then walked into Delores room. I saw she was sleeping so I walked to visit with her roommate. (Two people share a room in this particular nursing home)   She told me that Delores wasn't doing well. She said that she hasn't been opening her eyes much and that she didn't think she had much longer left. The sinking feeling again rose up in the pit of my stomach.

After I spoke with the roomate, I walked over to Delores bedside. I don't  really consider myself to be an affectionate person, but I felt as if I was supposed to grab her hand and just hold it for a while. So I did. I started speaking to her and I saw her open her eyes. I don't consider myself to be a talkative person. I'm rather shy around people, but, on that day..I looked Delores in the eyes and I told her that everything is going to be ok. I told her that she is a strong woman. I told her that God loves her and that this suffering is only temporary. I put my hand on her forehead and wiped the hair away from her eyes. I asked her if she could speak and she made a noise that sounded like a grunt. I told her that even though the words won't come, God sees her pray. Pray with your heart, Delores.
We sat by her for about an hour, and as we left, we told her that we loved her.

I walked to another part of the building and I saw a man hunched over in a wheel chair. He looked to be shaking. I asked him if he was cold and he nodded that he was cold. I noticed that he had no blankets on his bed. Only the standard issued sheet. So, I wrapped him in his sheet. He thanked us.

The next day, I saw an unused blanket sitting in the top of my closet, so I took it down. It was gathering dust and I knew a man who could really use it. When I got there to give it to him, he was asleep.
But I spread it across his sleeping body, the way a mother would do for a child. He woke up for a moment and I told him that I was giving him my blanket. He smiled and thanked me and fell back asleep.

We stopped and checked on Delores again. She smiled at us.

Last week was so unbelievably busy. I bought decorations for the house I'll soon be renting, I made my own soap, learned how to distress a table, distressed said table, and the list goes on...

Out of all of the amazing things I did last week, the greatest fulfillment came through giving. The Bible said to trade our joy for mourning.  "Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness."

The day I left the nursing home, I was deeply saddened. I was saddened by the lonlieness, the rejection, and the death that lives in those walls. But, I knew when I left that those are the kinds of places we are supposed to be..trading in our joy so that we can suffer with others in the same way that Christ suffered for us.


Some people forget about the elderly, the "widows". Many write them off as just being "old."
We fail to see the child in them. We fail to treat them as we would want to be treated.
No one, and I mean no one, would ever want to die alone.

Sometimes I wish more people out there would visit the elderly. If everyone had one person to visit, then places of death would quickly spring into places of life.   I think my biggest hope is that this post will challenge someone to be a light to the elderly.

Dreaming

today is a day for dreaming..
Sometimes, it is so easy to get caught up in the spinning wheel of routine and life that dreaming seems a lost art. Sometimes busyness dominates my life. It's nothing for me to get up at 3 am, drive an hour to work, work 12 hours, and drive back.  It's exhausting at times.
But today is a day for dreaming...
I am trusting God that He will show me more of what He wants for my life... I believe that when our dreams are in line with God's will, good things happen.

Some of my dreams are small and simple.. others are more grandiose.

Today, I'm dreaming about writing more music, spending more quality time with my children, limiting television, video games, and other technology to almost nil ( or getting rid of it altogether)

I'm dreaming about visiting wonderful places all around the world, visiting long lost friends, and making new ones. I'm dreaming of being a helping hand to those in need..

I'm dreaming of taking the time to learn to make things..like homemade soaps and candles and hats and nice pretty things like that.  I think I can get this done if I eliminate tv and facebook and all of the other things that consume too much of my time)

I'm dreaming of being the kind of mom who doesn't forget about her kids because she's too busy all of the time. I'm dreaming about getting our hands dirty in the kitchen, baking cookies..
I'm dreaming about buying Cade a musical instrument and then learning how to play together. 

I'm dreaming about adopting a kitten..
I'm dreaming about having hot coffee brewing 24/7 and an open door to all who need an ear to listen or a hand to feed.

I'm dreaming of going to the beach and relishing the sound of the waves and the smell of saltwater.

These are my God dreams..things that God put in my heart..


So tell me, what are your dreams?

Sold out

Lately, I've been on a quest to eat healthier. For the past few days, I have drank water spruced with a hint of lime..I've feasted on pecan halves, fresh apples with honey, cooked corn on the cob, and okra.
Today, I caved. I felt the temptation for a dr. pepper creeping up on me and it was very hard to resist.
I gathered my change and ventured to the coke machine at work.  I hit the Dr. Pepper and two words screamed back at me....flashing across a tiny little screen..
SOLD OUT..
Yes, I sold out.
I got a coke instead. 

Back to eating nuts and berries tomorrow.
Today, I sold out.
But I am having the best of days and my prayer is that you are too :)

Love Is

Today I recall my former days in "the world".... I recall men from former relationships.  I recall never feeling truly loved by any of them.  It was as if I kept searching for something within them...I wanted to pull out love and fantastical and wonderous things and all things good..but nothing like that ever came. It left me with an empty void..a craving of sorts.  I craved wholeness and yet I was a thousand broken pieces. I thought that these men could piece me together, but I know that none could have loved me with the love that I craved.

Deep down inside, I knew what love really was.. True love isn't looking to be pieced together, but looks to do the piecing.
Love is selfless. It doesn't count what it feels as fact. It pushes on and goes beyond feelings.
Love is pure, not something steeped in selfishness and sin.
Love is Jesus dying on a cross for people who cursed and mocked His name.

Love is the old man taking care of his dying wife when he would rather be out fishing.
Love is the young girl who gives up "the american dream" to serve in a Mexican orphanage..wher air conditoners don't work, but laughter is everywhere..simply because she gave.

Love is the lady who lovingly stitches hats for 26 men in at the homeless shelter...and then makes 15 more for the women's shelter.
Love keeps going.
It never dies.
It is a perpetual fire that ceases to burn. 

I don't know the answer to the question: Does God cause suffering?
Truthfully, I don't think that He does.
But I do know that the greatest triumph comes from the greatest tragedy.
I know that even in the most dire circumstances,
Love always shines like a light in the darkness.

Love is..

1 John 4:8

^{\ does not love does not know God, because God is love.} Whoever

Several months ago, I had a dream about a kitten. I could see that the kitten had been abused. She appeared tattered, beaten down, and weary. I can't recall all of her physical qualities, but I remember that she had been severely mistreated.  In the dream, I gave her some warm milk. I took care of her. I fed her and gave her warmth and comfort.  She left for a while. She went on about her prowess kitty ways, but later she came back.  She craved more of the love she had received. She had tasted it and she wanted more. 
I woke up and I felt as if the dream was from God. I felt as if He was saying that many of His children are like lost kittens. Some have been battered and beaten down by life..but it is our job to take care of them. Give them food..Give them love, the pure spirtual milk. they will know it's taste and, though they may stray, they will remember the warmth, the comfort, and the taste of love. They will come back.

I haven't really much thought about the dream until today.

A few weeks ago, I was in my grandfather's yard. I was bringing my boys for a sleepover when lo and behold, out of the corner of my eye, was a very scrawny, very tattered cat.  She was so skinny that her bones were protruding. A few moments later, I spotted her kitten. The kitten was also quite scrawny. I went inside my grandfather's house and I found a can of tuna fish. I fed the mother and her kitten.
The next day I found another kitten. This kitten was missing an eye. She had a gash on the side of neck that possibly came from another animal.  Between my grandfather and I, we've been feeding the cats.

The other day, I was driving down the road and I spotted the really battered, one eyed kitten, on the side of the road. She was half hidden in the grass, peering out her little yellow head. She was so  tiny and helpless looking. Apparently, she had gotten onto my grandfather's truck and taken a ride a few miles down the road. ...
I was in a hurry to be somewhere, but I stopped to pick her up. Normally, the kittens were quite shy. Everytime I would call one, they would scurry. They would never really let me touch them.

Well, that day..was different. The kitten must have known that I was there to rescue her, so she willingly hopped into my arms. I brought her back to my grandfather's house and he gave her a fresh can of sardines.


Up to that point, I still hadn't really thought much about the dream.

Today, I was driving for my daily starbucks run. As I was going under the overpass, I saw a man sitting there, huddled and alone, seeking shelter from the rain.

As I was getting onto the interstate, I knew that I should've offered to feed the man huddled helplessly under the overpass. I remembered the dream, and I remembered how I went out of my way to help the kitten on the side of the road. But here was a man and I didn't even stop.... But I was dead set on getting him fed.

Truthfully, I should have turned around. I should've found the next exit and starbucks be damned. (pardon that slang there) but really, I should have. I just hoped that I find him in the same place when I returned from my quick trip.

Sure enough. On the way back, I saw him sitting near the ramp of the interstate waiting for a ride. I knew I had to pass that way on my way to work, so I went to subway and ordered two foot long subway sandwiches.. BLT's, to be exact.
I got two iced cold Dr. Pepper's and two bags of Nacho Cheese Doritos.

As I drove up the ramp towards work, I noticed that the man was gone. Someone must have picked him up and given him a ride.

I kept remembering the dream and how I went out of my way and altered my schedule for the kitten. I know that God is calling us to do that with the people we encounter on a daily basis..
He is calling us to lay aside our selves to make sure that people have food and clothing. He is calling us to love in real and tangible ways.
He calls us to feed His sheep. Sometimes that means more than a quick and passing thought towards someone..sometimes it calls for us to go above and beyond and making sure that they are warm and comfortable, and, fed.
Food is the most basic need and yet people still go hungry every single day.
"Feed my sheep."

the day I spotted that kitten on the  road, I made sure that he was fed and cared for.
I realized that I am supposed to care for every person I see with the zeal and fervor that I cared for that little kitten.
Love is the purpose that we are here for..and love how He knows that we are His disciples.

"By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." - John 13;35

The one thing that I am completely enamored by in this life is the love of God. It is something so real and beautiful. It is timeless and powerful.
I crave more of it daily.
I long to love every single person in such a way that they see Christ in all that I do and in every word that I speak.
Lord, let us all desire that kind of love..such that we are willing to put ourselves upon a Cross to show others grace.

----

Today, I remembered a dear friend of mine. He doesn't really know Christ. A long time ago he told me a story about how he rescued a goat by the side of the road. It's head was stuck in a barbed wire fence. He told me how he spotted it and set it free.

Today, I sent him an email. I reminded him of the story he told me..and then I told him that Jesus is like that.  Jesus is the man who sees the suffering creature and then lovingly sets it free.
I implied that he was acting a lot like Jesus when he loosed the head of that helpless animal.

Want to hear something else that may sound crazy?

As I was driving to work, I still had the extra subway sandwich in tow. I took a different route. I took a route where I know there are sometimes homeless people hanging out near the overpass. I was hoping to see someone who would want the sandwich.

I didn't see anyone, but, as I was driving..God told me that He was going to feed me at work tonight.
Tonight, I walked into the control room at work and someone offered me a steak. 

God takes care of us. He expects of us to take care of His sheep, but in turn, he provides.
God is good.


James 4:10“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”

36 ideas for a lovely and meaningful summer

I am standing on the precipice of the age of 36.
I am looking down at 35 years,,..the older I get..the further I look back through the years.

On the ladder of life, my foot is poised to step on rung 36.
I can see summer from this altitude..

and she looks dazzling...all clothed in promise and adventure..
Today, I am writing a post on how I will celebrate 36 years of living...This summer I will venture off the beaten path...
 I hope you will too...
I hope that this summer will be your year...The year of flourishing and beauty. A year where you find beauty and meaning and wonder.

...The year where you emerge from your cocoon of safety and discover that you had wings, all along.. I want this year to be filled with meaning, depth, and beauty.
I want the same for you.

Here are 36 ways to Make a Summer Meaningful and Great.

1. Pick something.
I live in the south. Blackberry season is nudging her pretty little head through the ground and soon the delicious little treats will be everywhere. If blackberries don't grow in your area..look up a local "pick your own" farm.

I heard about pick your own farms in the not too distant past. The idea of grabbing a bucket and strolling through a farm filling it with fresh fruit or vegetables sounded romantic. Peaches, apples, cherries, blueberries...If it grows from the ground, there may be a farm to pick it... Eat fresh fruit off the vine. Take the kids. Hold hands. Enjoy the quiet. Taste the natural. Make it meaningful.
Here is a link to "pick your own" farms. http://www.pickyourown.org/


2. Turn off the T.V..T.V takes time and eats it. You never get it back.Create your own story, instead of watching someone else's play out on screen. You are a character in the beautiful life you've been given. This summer, turn off the television..or at least limit the amount of television you and your family watch. Life is too short. Make memories. Ten years from now you will remember loving on someone. You will remember your meaningful summer. You will not remember the episode of American Idol. I promise.



3. Volunteer. This summer, take time to be a part of something. Make a difference. This year I volunteered for Big Brothers/Big Sisters.. I am a Big Sister to a lovely little girl named Alicelynn. Research ways to volunteer in your community. Give Back! Be a part of a child's life.  Here's a link to Big Brothers/Big Sisters...http://www.bbbs.org/site/c.9iILI3NGKhK6F/b.5962335/k.BE16/Home.htm



4. Learn something new - Our local college offers leisure learning classes..Learn how to tango or play the guitar...learn that foreign language you've always wanted to learn. You don't have to spend a fortune to enhance your skillls. My sister-in-law leaned to crochet baby hats simply by watching a youtube video. My son is teaching himself to draw the same way.. Find your passion, and exlore it..Learn something new!


5. Pray together - There is nothing more beautiful and meaningful than a family that prays together. The most beautiful part of all is that God hears our prayers. This past year, I have truly been amazed at the specific ways that God has heard my prayers. He hears yours, too. How do we teach our children to pray? To pray for them..



6. Read. Curl up with a good book. Sit on the back porch with a cup of coffee. Try teechino. Google it. I finished "The Help" in the not too distant past..I'm not attempting Don Quixote. The book is always better than the movie.  Read the Bible..some Bibles grow dusty on out of reach shelves. Take it down and study it.. Ask God to show you the Truth through His Word.. I have seen it come alive on more than one occassion.



7. Fellowship - Take time to get to know the neigbors. Bake some cookies and deliver them to people around the neighborhood. Take the time to love truly love those around you. Forgive those who have wronged you..and fellowship. It's what Jesus and His disciples did...Loved out loud.



8. Love anonymously- Don't let love be a game of bells and whistles..take the time to love someone anonymously. Leave random notes on strangers cars. Pay for the person's order in the car behind you at the drive through..leave flowers on a neighbors doorstep..saying, "Jesus loves you." 



9. Travel - Travel isn't possible for all people..but take time to explore the beauty around you. Go to places you have never been. Walk through the forest or the park.. To me, traveling is simply to move..


10. Play in the rain- Let loose your inner child..on a rainy day..take the kids outsie and laugh. Get your toes wet..It's a memory you will have forever.


11.  Create - Write, sing, photograph, craft...You were created to create. You may not think of yourself as creative, but there is something within you that is uniquely you. Let it come out.



12. Build something.... Build a lego structure, a swing set, a tree house, something that will make memories...memories are meaningful.


13. Take a day to write handwritten letters in leiu of "liking" a friend's facebook post. I love facebook, but nothing compares to real human interaction. I love my facebook friends but nothing compares to someone taking the time to acknowlege you.  Write a letter to someone instead of simply "liking" them. It's more meaningful.


14. Take a pinterest day where you make a recipe or craft from pinterest - Try that recipe for eggplant parm that you have always wanted to make.. or make the cool sandwich for you child.."the one that looks like mickey mouse." Get off of the computer and make something :)  If you have children, let them help out. It builds thier confidence and lets them know how much you love them.


15. Hug. Nothing compares to a wam, gentle hug. Take a day and make it point to hug everyone around you.


16. Encourage - Words can build up or tear down. Cease to speak negatively. Instead, pratice being an encouragement to those around you.


17. Give something away...Go through you closets. Give away clothes you don't wear. Give away clothes you do wear. Give away items you don't need, and help someone who truly doesn need them. There is nothing more soul satisfying than loving on God and helping His children.


18. Think Missions - Go on a mission trip. I found a really cool one that I would like to go to on Compassion International's website. I've noticed that many of the major charities offer mission trip opportunites. Some are rather costly..but some sites offer trips to places in the United States..Here is a link to a few of the trips offered by Compassion.  http://www.compassion.com/get-involved/trips-visits.htm


19.  Improve your eating habits -It's important to feel good, so try to improve your eating habits.  This is something that I truly need to work on...so maybe I have no right to even right about this subject matter...but I do like the idea of feeling healthy and vibrant. I want to feel confident in my eating habits. I want you  to feel confident, as well.


20.  Be the diva that you are. You are beautiful. Take a day to remind yourself. Get a massage. Get your nails done and treat yourself to something new. Be the diva that you are.


21. Exemplify patience. It's easy to allow stress to hinder your day. It's easy to resort to yelling and fussing. Pray and ask for greater patience. Everyone around you will soon begin to see a difference and life will soon look more lovely.


22.  Find your passion. Ever wanted to try your hand at cooking? or learn the tango? Do it..discover new things that you love.


23. Give God the glory. Thank Him for each and every day...thank Him for every sunrise and sunset. Sometimes we simply don't  thank Him enough.


24. Photograph - I love capturing moments. This summer, carry your camera with you. Be creative..capture different angles, viewpoints... do a little online  research and just have fun...


25. Be the Spark- You are the light of the world. Let it shine. Be the candle in someone else's life. Hold the door open for a stranger. Do something whimsical and unexpectedly kind. Be That person.


26. Read the Bible. Learn about Jesus and let Him be an example to live by..


27. Road Trip - enough said...


28. Listen to music that inspires


29. Be a tourist in your own hometown -go to your local tourist office and see your town with different eyes. We often take for granted the wonders around us..


30. One word: Gratitude..In the Bible, God urges us to not want more,but to simply be thankful for all that we have. Peace comes when we learn to appreciate the small, quiet moments. Beauty comes when we learn to let go and simply learn to appreciate what is right in front of us.


31. Host a meteor shower party - in our family, we have started a tradition..we have meteor shower parties.We gather up family and food and lots of chairs ..we build a bonfire and we watch the stars fall from the sky. It creates wonderful memories and it's fun.


32.  Be childlike! Is there anything more lovely than being childlike? Lay in the grass, stare up at the sky and find shapes in the clouds. Fly a kite. Go for a bike ride or roller skate..


33. have a front porch, sweet tea kind of summer - sometimes, the best thing one can do,,, is to sit in the stillness and the silence. this summer doesn't have to be busy. Aim for quiet often.


34. Reconcile and apologize - Meaning can often be found by simply saying, Sorry.. It's a hard thing to do sometimes, but it allows you to let go of a lot of hurt and baggage.


35. Love. There is no greater purpose on this earth than to love those around us. We often get so heavily involved in our worries, fears, work..and even technology ..that we miss wonderful opportunites to love.

36...well, i'm tired..so I am simply going to suggest rest. Take a break. Rest. Don't do anything. Relish it.

Terribly Interesting: I Didn't Even Bake the Cookies

Terribly Interesting: I Didn't Even Bake the Cookies: This Blog is updated each Tuesday. If you could do anything with your life, what would it be? I challenge you this week to turn off your t.v...