June Bugs

Last night, my husband, son and I were in our entry way saying goodbye to some relatives as they left our house when, as my husband closed the door, a rogue June bug flew into the house. He flittered around for a few moments and then landed on my son’s forehead as he sat on my hip. I quickly swatted the bug away but he flew back and landed on my son’s open hand as he cooed in delight. I hit the bug away again and he flew onto my chest. Have I mentioned that I hate bugs? I shrieked and batted at the bug only to knock him down my shirt, still holding on to the baby and trying to stay calm I rushed towards my husband, holding out my shirt urging, “Get it out, get it out, get it out.” My little boy immediately began shrieking and crying looking not at the bug….but at me. The bug was eventually eradicated and subsequently squished but what really got to me wasn’t the bug down my shirt but how much my son followed my lead. It really made me think about the example I am setting for him in other aspects of my life. If he is looking to me for the cues on the little things like “what to do when a bug flies down your shirt”, what other more important things is he looking to me for guidance on? What are my actions and reactions in daily life teaching him about being a parent, spouse, employee and Christian? Is my life really a demonstration of the lessons and values I want him to hold dear?

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the Lord swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.
Deuteronomy 11:18-21

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Extraordinary News

This week's edition of Extraordinary News features the story of a Broken Arrow woman who discovered a loaded atm lockbox that had fallen off of a Brinks truck and turned the unopened lockbox (that contained $40,000) into the police. To read this story, as reported by CBS News visit Woman Returns Lockbox Containing $40,000.

The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.
Proverbs 10:9

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On The Prowl

Growing up, my sister and I were fortunate to live in a neighborhood with a whole slew of kids our age. Although I wasn’t the oldest kid on the block, I was the one always organizing activities, from neighborhood parades (think wagons, bicycles, kazoos and toilet paper) to lemonade stands, plays and competitions; I was large and in charge. I was also the one kid that everyone tattled on for being bossy (shocking, I know). After one such incident, when the whole group went to my mom to complain, my mom pulled me aside and said these wise words, “Meagan, bossiness is the devil’s way of turning the gift of leadership into a sin.” Needless to say, I heard that a few hundred times during my childhood (did I also mention that I am a little hard-headed?) but my mom was exactly right.

Reflecting back on that moment and on those special memories, I can’t help but wonder what gifts Satan is trying to use for his purposes in my life today. Scripture tells us that nothing is kept from Satan and that he will use every possible device to accomplish his purposes. Satan not only attacks our weak-links, he has the ability to corrupt even our strengths or spiritual gifts. What gifts of yours is Satan trying to use for his purposes?

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
1 Peter 5:8-9

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Recognition

This afternoon I was sitting in my kitchen working on a project while my son slept peacefully in his crib and my husband mowed the front yard. I really enjoyed the time by myself and was completely wrapped up in my thoughts until I heard my husband finish mowing. As soon as the mower went off, I heard the baby crying that sort of screaming cry that happens after they have been crying a long time. I looked over and realized I had forgotten to turn on the baby monitor and the air conditioner combined with the mower outside my window had prevented me from hearing his cries. I ran into his room and over to his crib and said his name as I scooped him into my arms. As soon as he saw my face, the waterworks turned off like a light switch and he smiled while a final tear rolled down his fat little cheek; he sort of giggled like, “Oh, hey mom, there you are.” I was surprised at how quickly he had recovered. Later on I got to thinking about how desperate his cries had seemed and how just the sound of my voice and the feel of my arms had immediately made him feel safe.

There are so many times in my life when I feel desperate, scared, lonely, or hopeless but often I don’t recognize God’s voice when he calls out to me in comfort. I would imagine that my inability to recognize his voice is a reflection of how well I know him and hope that as I mature in my relationship with him that I will more quickly recognize his voice. May I be as a child who knows his mother’s voice above all others.

O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."
Isaiah 30:19;21

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Hollygood

A few weeks ago, my family rented a house in Florida for a weeklong vacation. We had a wonderful time riding bicycles, kayaking, playing games, and relaxing on the beach as much possible. Our evenings were pretty laid back and usually included some type of family game followed by lounging on the screened-in porch or snuggled up in the den watching a movie. One night after some discussion about what movie we wanted to watch, we discovered that my dad had never seen one of our family’s favorites, Anne of Green Gables, and was less than thrilled about the possibility of watching the six-hour miniseries. Growing up, anytime someone turned on a movie you knew it would only be a couple of seconds before you’d hear, “What’s this rated?” from my dad. Knowing how much he appreciated wholesome movies, we tried desperately to peak his interest with snippets of the story-line and enthusiastic endorsements from every family member including phrases like “wholesome”, “clean”, and “sweet”. The more I thought about our tactics to entice, the more it dawned on me how truly rare good wholesome, good quality, unanimated movies are to find.

Growing up I always justified watching questionable movies because I thought that since I was a Christian they wouldn’t affect or tempt me but truth be told, I still find storylines and images from those questionable movies popping up in my head every once in a while. I can tell myself that I am not affected by the things I expose myself to when trying to be “culturally relevant” but any ungodly thing I allow into my head can easily cause me to stumble later. Luckily, I just recently discovered two websites that I think will be invaluable as I raise my children because they will allow us to watch current movies without the violence, language, or sexually explicit scenes. The prices are a little higher than your average video store membership but the rewards are priceless. Be sure to checkout hollygood.com and cleanflicks.com.

I will set before my eyes no vile thing. The deeds of faithless men I hate; they will not cling to me.
Psalm 101:3

P.S. With a new baby in the house, I don't get out much so I'd love recommendations on good wholesome movies that don't have to be edited.

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Qualified

I remember a sermon I heard many years ago from the senior minister of our old church. I was a lot younger and not entirely paying attention, but for one split second my ears opened up and I heard a sentence that struck a chord, “We are each uniquely qualified by our own life experiences to minister. There are people we can reach, because of our experiences, that others can't.”

Years later, while working on a Let's Start Talking campaign, I found myself in Kampala, Uganda (Africa), teaching English using the Bible. Uganda was primarily an English speaking country, as far as government was concerned. Consequently, refugees entering Kampala, the nation's capital, often found themselves unable to communicate with officials. Although my team’s original mission was to teach English to refugees from the Republic of Congo, I quickly found myself devoted to the Ethiopian/Eritrean refugees. One day while reading during my free time, one of the Ethiopian refugees approached the learning center from the street. Trying first in Arabic he attempted to ask me a question; four languages later he hit on a language that I knew: Italian! I soon learned that although most Ethiopians and Eritreans spoke only Arabic or Amharic, many also spoke Italian and/or Greek (look at a map and you will understand why). Just two years prior to this trip I had spent two semesters studying abroad in Florence, Italy and at that moment I knew that although my Italian skills were by no means exceptional, I was there for a reason. Have you ever had a moment in your life when you suddenly realized that you were UNIQUELY qualified for the situation?

For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
Philippians 2:13

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Audience Of One

I have a friend, whom I love dearly, but every time I see her she tells me about some "product" I should be using or a better way to apply my makeup. It shouldn't bother me, but it does, and as a result I find myself taking extra time to apply my makeup and fix my hair when I know I am going to see her.

A few weeks ago I had a meeting with a very important and well-known man in our brotherhood. I had only just met the man when he looked over at my bookshelf and said, "Your bookshelf sure is empty; looks like you aren't much of a reader." I wanted to say something smart like, "I don't want to be sized up by the books I read so I don't display mine," but I opted instead for something a little more gracious and humble. It shouldn't have bothered me, but it did, and now I find myself glancing at the bookshelf several times throughout the day wondering what my books say about me.

Those of you who know me well know that I am five months past a very difficult pregnancy that included 10 weeks of bedrest, an emergency c-section and a sweet little boy who was 7.5 weeks early. Aside from the obvious blessings that resulted from the ordeal, I found myself with an extra 65 lbs and a really ugly scar. Now 44 lbs lighter I have been continually discouraged by how few people have noticed the change. It shouldn't bother me, but it does, and I find myself putting more and more time in the gym and restricting my food even more to get back "down to size".

Suddenly, it hit me. Why do I care so much what all of these other people think? There is really only one audience member that matters: God. How different would my life be if I truly lived and breathed for an audience of one?

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2

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