Which Turtle Are You?

Yesterday morning I went for a walk beside a creek that runs through a nearby neighborhood. I noticed several turtles near a current that was forming close to a bridge. I steadied my gaze upon the scene and observed something that pricked my heart.

Sitting in the middle of the creek, on top of a rather large white rock was a single turtle. He was so high up on the rock that his feet couldn't touch the water. In the creek below him were four or five turtles swimming fretfully in the middle of the rushing current, filthy water, and pieces of trash floating near their bobbing heads.

I stopped to watch the scene and tried to take a picture. It was the perfect reflection of life. Sometimes all the pressure, busyness, trash, pain, and desires of this world swirl around us. Like little turtles we get caught up in the current of the world and are surrounded by the filth. Our little heads are barely bobbing above water just trying to stay afloat.

As Christians, we have the opportunity to rise above the things in life that pull us down, tempt and distract us. We can climb upon the rock of Jesus, dangle our feet, and rest. When we do, we are still in the river of life but we see things from a totally different perspective. We have peace from the current, freedom from the filth, and joy just relaxing in the sunshine knowing the rock is holding us steady!

Choose today to live on the rock! Rest in His arms and see life from His perspective!

"The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." Psalm 18:2

A WHOLE AFTERNOON TO MYSELF...wait, WHAT? (probably not)

Have you had a day like this...

"Merry Christmas" the office says, "You get the afternoon off!" What? A whole afternoon off? My entire body went into shock!! A WHOLE AFTERNOON TO MYSELF!

What will I do?  I began to daydream and pictured myself (which is generally a Victoria Secret body with Jennifer Aniston's face and somehow ME meshed into it) getting a pedicure, a massage, having a nice snack out on the front porch, reading a relaxing book, doing a little shopping, and coming home to my wonderful family who had prepared dinner which was sitting on the table where we all sat around laughing and talking.

I left the office party and headed home as the dream whirled through my mind. I pulled into the driveway and walked into the door.

My son was home from school early because he had finals! Mom, "Let's play basketball!" I gave the little squint eyed look like maybe not and he suggested, "Let's put up the Christmas lights in the front yard then." Now, believe it or not, that was sounding a little better because 1. it needed to be done and 2. my neighbors gave me a hard time at the block Christmas party the night before because we are the only ones without lights up. Imagine that!

I quickly realized my afternoon fantasy was fading fast, so I agreed to put up lights. We began the fun endeavor, laughing and talking, when my husband came out the front door yelling, "I forgot BJ's doctor's appointment is today and I didn't get his MRI."  Guess where my son and I headed? We left the lights in the front yard and took off to get the MRI which was at 1960 and I-45. We arrived and waited at least 30 minutes. Finally, got the the test and drove 30 minutes across town to spend another 30 minutes trying to find the doctor's office. We laughed a few minutes with my husband and son, then headed off to fight another 30 minutes of traffic to arrive home at 6:00 which was just in time to start dinner.

WAIT...WHAT????
My whole afternoon of luxury and self-indulgence was out the door! I realized as I cleaned the kitchen, helped with homework, and yes popped pimples for a desperate teenager (you know you've done it) the last few minutes of the precious day to myself...I smiled and realized...I wouldn't trade it for the world. Despite the change in plans, my son and I spent the entire afternoon laughing and making memories as we trudged through the necessary demands of life. I had quality time with my daughter doing homework and a moment with my son explaining God's word that I'll never forget.

As you rush around this Christmas season, your plans will change, the in-laws will drive you crazy, the cookies will burn, the lights will go out, and you will more than likely not get one second to yourself...so what do you do?

EMBRACE EVERY MOMENT!! MAKE MEMORIES!! And CHERISH THE LITTLE TIME YOU HAVE WITH YOUR FAMILY whether it's driving all over town, cooking, doing homework, or popping pimples...enjoy it, because it goes so quickly and we only get this one Christmas!

Why Do I Throw Rocks?

Have you ever made a dumb choice that brought on consequences you regretted?

Today I had the privilege of visiting my 17-year-old friend who is in a youth detention center. Something he said today rocked my world.

Life is like a pond. The water is smooth, glassy, and still. Then out of nowhere or after much thought, we throw a rock into the center of the silky reservoir of water. Waves splash, ripples bellow across the water, and the peaceful calm is gone. After patiently waiting for the consequences to alter the moment, the motion subsides and peace returns.

Sometimes we make choices, succumb to temptations, or do foolish things that crash the peaceful calm of our lives. Like a rock pelting the gentle water, a simple word spoken wounds a relationship. A thoughtless action alters our future, or an addictive temptation ripples through our mind and seizes our life.  It’s the rock that destroys the life we were intended to live.

So why do we throw the rock? What causes us to say the hateful word, do the unimaginable, or remain trapped in a bed of lies? Why do we destroy the peace that we love?

Is it retaliation?

Is it a need for control?

Is it to satisfy a need that only Christ can fill?

Is it for approval or popularity?

Hearing his simple words brought me to my knees:

God, I’m so sorry for all the rocks I’ve thrown. You have the perfect plan for my life and I repeatedly chunk rocks into the center of your perfect will causing pain, hard times, and unnecessary consequences. Forgive me.

When I pick up my rocks, in what I say, or do, please gently take my hand and remove the stone. Let me build an altar at your feet with the rocks that could destroy my life. Turn those ugly habits, temptations, and nasty stones into beautiful flowers that line the edge of my life, reflecting your forgiveness and strength.

The GREAT Christmas IDEA

Today was a crazy day for me! Have you ever said YES to something that you thought was a “GREAT idea” and then wondered, “What was I thinking?”

People from our church hosted a Christmas party today and needed 2 students to dress up in costumes and greet families. Who couldn’t do that, right?

I asked my kids if they were interested because the reward was a small donation to their mission trips. One of my girls was so excited about the earnings but quickly realized she had to work.

Being the mother I am, I thought, “I’ll go do it and give her the money for her trip! What a GREAT idea, right?

Well, after shaking hundreds of hands, causing children to laugh and cry, walking numerous miles at the party, sweating my head off, and nearly loosing my tights twice, I survived the “great idea!”

I must admit in spite of all the negatives, it was a sweet day, sharing the magic of Christmas with so many children. Seeing their faces light up at the sight of “the Grinch” (yes, that was my costume) or hearing them squeal across the yard, “It’s the Grinch!”

After the party I quickly ran home and changed clothes to work the “snow hill” at our church. After our Christmas program each year we have snow for children to sled. The staff herds hundreds of giggling, excited, and happy children (and adults) down 8 lanes of packed snow in a quick hour and a half. As I pushed each child down the hill or tossed sleds to the appropriate lanes, it was so fun watching children enjoy the special moment that is so rare in Texas  - playing in snow!

As I rode home at 10pm tonight, I thought to myself, “What a great idea! Spending my day making others smile, laugh, and enjoy a magical moment!” Then I wondered, “What if we all spent our lives investing in others? What if every day we each made another person laugh, created magical moments for the ones we love, or brought smiles to people who cross our paths?”

I thought about the number of people sitting at home all day staring at a television, surfing the net, checking out facebook, Twitter, and Pintrest. How would the world be different if the electronic invested hours were turned towards people?

I had ANOTHER great idea …this Christmas season, I’m going to turn off the TV and turn to the people I love. Shift my focus from internet acquaintances to those I see and touch. I will make somebody laugh, giggle, or smile. I thought to myself, NOW THAT IS THE RIGHT IDEA! Don’t you agree?

Good or Bad for a Reason & a Season

Do you believe God puts people in your life for a reason? Good people and bad people? Has God ever asked you to pray for someone you thought was hopeless? Maybe you thought they were so bad even prayer couldn’t help.

 Over the last 4 months, God brought a young man into my life that has completely inspired me. He is 17 years old, in jail, and completely sold out to Christ.

 I know some of you are skeptical. Seventeen and in jail? Sold out to Christ? The two don’t exactly go together, do they?

Maybe not, but think about your Bible. How many books in the Bible are written from prison? What about Joseph? A young boy wrongly accused, put in jail, and rescued for the sheer purpose of saving God’s nation. Can God use the good and bad people in our lives?

About 4 months ago, this young juvenile came up in a conversation I was having with another student. The Spirit stirred me to really pray for the kid. I knew the boy had been arrested, was formerly in gangs, a heavy drug user, and the typical stereotype of trouble. I continued to pray daily and as God would have it, the kid showed up in the hallway at the church where I serve one random morning. We stood there for about an hour and talked about life, the future, and choices. He shared his heart and struggles. I asked him to commit to coming to church every Sunday until Christmas and he agreed.

One evening, about a month later, I was standing in the kitchen cooking one of my gourmet meals, “Hamburger Helper.” I received a text that read, “Mrs. Stephanie can I tell you what Jesus did in my life Sunday?” I replied, “Yes! Can you call me now and tell me?” I was EXSTATIC!!! My phone immediately rang.

The young man proceeded to tell me how he woke up the previous Sunday morning and felt something telling him to go to church. He tried in many ways to resist it but couldn’t. He walked to church after fighting temptations from friends to stay home and went to small group Bible study. He said, “The teacher in my room described my life. Everything he was saying was me.” When he and a friend left the room, the friend said, “Have you been talking to that guy? He knew your life.”

His friend persuaded him to leave after Bible Study and not stay for the worship service. As he was walking home, he kept feeling something inside of him saying, “Go back.” He could not fight it anymore and headed back to church. He sat in the service listening to a sermon that was written directly for him. The preacher knew nothing of his life but every word spoken was intended for the troubled teenager.

At the end of the service, he said, “The man that was talking told us to bow our heads and pray. When I bowed my head, the tears started pouring out and wouldn’t stop. I couldn’t control it.  I felt all the anger in me coming out with every tear.” He continued to describe how a peace came over him that he had never experienced before. He said, “Mrs. Stephanie, I talked to my friend after church and I gave my life to Jesus!” He was SO excited.

As I sat there stirring noodles and ground beef, tears rolled down my cheeks. Once again, my God graciously and mercifully reached down from heaven and saved a lost little child.

The young man had to hurry off the phone because a friend was coming to pick him up for Bible Study and he didn’t want to be late. I laughed to myself. If only we were all so hungry for God’s word and to grow in our relationship with Him.

The teenager still had to go to court and face the charges pressed against him. Yes, he was guilty and sentenced 3-6 months in juvenile detention. When we visited him there after his first week, he enthusiastically told us how he already shared Christ with a boy there.

 I’ve never seen a person so on fire for Jesus…hungry for the word, anxious to share his faith, and feeling so deeply forgiven and loved. I am so thankful God allowed me to meet this teenage boy and to see His mighty power displayed in the life of one seriously hurting soul.

Sometimes God puts what the world calls good and bad people in our lives for a reason and sometimes just for a season. No matter who  God brings or why, we must be sensitive to the Spirit’s leading to pray and willing to show a little love along the way.