"A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes." - Proverbs 31:10-24
I love Proverbs 31. It is full of outdated activities and it tends to make the modern woman a little prickly. A little trivia, it is actually an acrostic poem, where each verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. I feel that because of the language used, it doesn't have much attention paid to it, or that women tend to disregard it as archaic. I completely disagree, and feel that it can easily apply to women today.
At first glance, the woman of the beginning section of Proverbs 31 is That Woman. The one who is always on time, pressed and dressed, with a smile on her face and a kind word on her tongue. The one who you see and say, "I wonder how she does it?" But there is more to Proverbs 31 than to give us a standard to live up to, or to make us feel less than satisfied with how we perform as wives and mothers.
The beginning verses describe a woman who is confident and self sufficient. She is prudent with her resources and busy keeping her home running smoothly. She is charitable and giving, and she maintains her home so that when storms come in, she is not caught unprepared. She dresses in the nicest clothing that she has, and her husband is proud of her. She contributes to her family's income by using her talents in a way that brings honor to her home.
How is this any different from any of us? We are all busy mothers, we prepare for life's storms, we dress ourselves with the intention of feeling comfortable and confident. We give time and money to those who are needy, and our husbands are proud of us.
"She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."" - Proverbs 31:25-29
This is my favorite section. It describes the character of the woman I would like to be when I grow up. Some of you are already there, you are already wise. You women who I look up to, you see the beauty and the humor of the mundane. You are comfortable in your skin and you speak your minds, guiding your family with strength. You are in the groove, enjoying your life. Your children see that the amazing woman who raised them is a blessing to them and to others, not just their maid, or their taxi driver. And your husband knows what a lucky man he is to have you!
"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate."- Proverbs 31:30-31
And this last section brings us crashing back to reality. No matter how charming or how beautiful we are, or how talented and hardworking we are, from our relationship with God, that is where we will receive our reward. Let us not lose sight of that, and let us not get caught up in "keeping up with Mrs. Jones."
Dear God, we thank You for providing us with the tools to be strong women, wives and mothers. We ask for your guidance, please introduce women into our lives who will influence us positively, and help us be positive role models to others. In Your Name we pray, amen.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Life Story
"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." - Phillippians 4:12-13
It is easy to feel like what we have isn't enough. We are constantly bombarded with advertisements for whiter teeth, smoother thighs, fuller lips. We watch "reality" tv shows and the lives of the "Real Housewives" are full of luxury and opportunity. Our children misbehave, while other children seem angelic in comparison, and we wonder why it is so easy for everyone else.
The answer is, it's not. Everyone has struggles and skeletons, scars that we see and those that we don't.
I come from a very different environment than the one in which we are raising our children. My mom worked as a library aide and started taking college courses at night when I was five. My daddy was a welder and a laborer, mainly building waterfront retaining walls and boat docks or installing awnings for the wealthier residents of Lake Dunlap. He struggled with alcoholism and mental illness for most of his life. Sometimes there was work and sometimes there wasn't, and we were occasionally recipients of welfare. We had happy times, but I knew something wasn't right.
My parents divorced when I was in the fourth grade. My mom remarried and was finishing her teaching degree, and by most accounts, we were a happy, lower middle class blended family. My step dad was a band director at the high school, my mom eventually taught middle school science, and there were five kids from 11 to 15, all living in a two bedroom, one bathroom rental house in an older neighborhood.
I thought we had won the lottery. My step dad was stable, he was happy, he never drank anything stronger than iced tea. He loved me and my sister as if we were his. I grabbed his hand on the day I met him and never let go.
I didn't see my daddy much. He didn't always have the right to visitation because he was in and out of treatment and sometimes jail for a year. I loved my daddy very much and it was a very hard time in my life.
And then my daddy passed away. He took his own life in the summer between fifth and sixth grade. I was spending the night at a friend's house and my mom came to pick me up very early. We got to our house and my sister was sitting in the kitchen staring into the backyard. She had left two days before for a weeklong trip to the coast with her best friend's family. It was so confusing to see her there. My mom and step dad took me into their bedroom in the back of the house and told me that my daddy was gone.
I remember feeling nothing, empty. I went into the room that I shared with my sister and two stepsisters and laid down on my bunk bed. I did that a lot for the next few days. My daddy's funeral is a blurry memory. It was horrible.
Psalm 11:17-18 says, "You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more."
I think about this story of mine, and how it could so easily be the beginning of a life of sadness and self doubt. But instead it is a story of how God provided me with so much. He gave me a daddy who loved me as a little girl, and took me fishing and camping, and let me sit with him while he was dove hunting, no matter how loud I was.
And then He gave me a dad who loved me when he didn't have to, and walked me down the aisle at my wedding, and was there when I had my babies, and holds my hand and doesn't let go.
And He gave me my faith in my Heavenly Father, the One who guides me and gives me strength when I have none.
So I think of all that I have in my life, and I am blessed.
Dear God, thank you for all of the blessings and opportunities that you have given us in this life. Help us to feel contentment in our lives, and give us strength to walk through devestation. In Your Holy Name we pray, amen.
It is easy to feel like what we have isn't enough. We are constantly bombarded with advertisements for whiter teeth, smoother thighs, fuller lips. We watch "reality" tv shows and the lives of the "Real Housewives" are full of luxury and opportunity. Our children misbehave, while other children seem angelic in comparison, and we wonder why it is so easy for everyone else.
The answer is, it's not. Everyone has struggles and skeletons, scars that we see and those that we don't.
I come from a very different environment than the one in which we are raising our children. My mom worked as a library aide and started taking college courses at night when I was five. My daddy was a welder and a laborer, mainly building waterfront retaining walls and boat docks or installing awnings for the wealthier residents of Lake Dunlap. He struggled with alcoholism and mental illness for most of his life. Sometimes there was work and sometimes there wasn't, and we were occasionally recipients of welfare. We had happy times, but I knew something wasn't right.
My parents divorced when I was in the fourth grade. My mom remarried and was finishing her teaching degree, and by most accounts, we were a happy, lower middle class blended family. My step dad was a band director at the high school, my mom eventually taught middle school science, and there were five kids from 11 to 15, all living in a two bedroom, one bathroom rental house in an older neighborhood.
I thought we had won the lottery. My step dad was stable, he was happy, he never drank anything stronger than iced tea. He loved me and my sister as if we were his. I grabbed his hand on the day I met him and never let go.
I didn't see my daddy much. He didn't always have the right to visitation because he was in and out of treatment and sometimes jail for a year. I loved my daddy very much and it was a very hard time in my life.
And then my daddy passed away. He took his own life in the summer between fifth and sixth grade. I was spending the night at a friend's house and my mom came to pick me up very early. We got to our house and my sister was sitting in the kitchen staring into the backyard. She had left two days before for a weeklong trip to the coast with her best friend's family. It was so confusing to see her there. My mom and step dad took me into their bedroom in the back of the house and told me that my daddy was gone.
I remember feeling nothing, empty. I went into the room that I shared with my sister and two stepsisters and laid down on my bunk bed. I did that a lot for the next few days. My daddy's funeral is a blurry memory. It was horrible.
Psalm 11:17-18 says, "You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more."
I think about this story of mine, and how it could so easily be the beginning of a life of sadness and self doubt. But instead it is a story of how God provided me with so much. He gave me a daddy who loved me as a little girl, and took me fishing and camping, and let me sit with him while he was dove hunting, no matter how loud I was.
And then He gave me a dad who loved me when he didn't have to, and walked me down the aisle at my wedding, and was there when I had my babies, and holds my hand and doesn't let go.
And He gave me my faith in my Heavenly Father, the One who guides me and gives me strength when I have none.
So I think of all that I have in my life, and I am blessed.
Dear God, thank you for all of the blessings and opportunities that you have given us in this life. Help us to feel contentment in our lives, and give us strength to walk through devestation. In Your Holy Name we pray, amen.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Movie and a Pizza
Our house has movie night on Fridays, I try to get my act together early enough to make pizza. This afternoon we got some big clouds and it got really cool and breezy so we spent some time in the yard with the neighbors. So pizza is coming AFTER the movie, oh well, flexibility is a great thing.
Tonight's movie is Mary Poppins and the pizza is 1 part cheese, 2 parts veggie and 3 parts pepperoni.
Here's Stephanie's delicious pizza recipe, I've added my two cents:
3 Tbsp yeast
2 C brown rice flour
1.5 C tapioca
6 Tbsp powdered milk
2 Tbsp xanthan gum
1.5 tsp salt
3 tsp unflavored gelatin
2 C warm water
1.5 tsp sugar
3 tsp extra virgin olive oil
3 tsp vinegar
Optional- cornmeal, grated parmesan cheese, garlic powder, toppings
1. Set oven to 425 degrees.
2. Blend all dry ingredients on low speed with a mixer. Slowly add water, oil and vinegar.
3. Beat on high speed for 4 minutes. If dough is too thick, add more warm water.
4. Grease the pan, I also sprinkle the bottom of the pan with cornmeal, then press the dough onto the pan with wet hands and smooth out. Cover lightly and let rise for about 20 minutes.
5. Sprinkle uncooked crust with parmesan cheese and garlic powder if desired.
6. Cook about 12 minutes or until golden and not shiny.
7. Remove and add toppings.
8. Bake an additional 7-10 minutes. Just keep a close eye on it, the cheese will melt and edges will get a darker brown.
I make about a 16 inch large, you can also make two smaller and parbake one crust and freeze for later.
It's pretty good! The best gf pizza recipe I've made!
Tonight's movie is Mary Poppins and the pizza is 1 part cheese, 2 parts veggie and 3 parts pepperoni.
Here's Stephanie's delicious pizza recipe, I've added my two cents:
3 Tbsp yeast
2 C brown rice flour
1.5 C tapioca
6 Tbsp powdered milk
2 Tbsp xanthan gum
1.5 tsp salt
3 tsp unflavored gelatin
2 C warm water
1.5 tsp sugar
3 tsp extra virgin olive oil
3 tsp vinegar
Optional- cornmeal, grated parmesan cheese, garlic powder, toppings
1. Set oven to 425 degrees.
2. Blend all dry ingredients on low speed with a mixer. Slowly add water, oil and vinegar.
3. Beat on high speed for 4 minutes. If dough is too thick, add more warm water.
4. Grease the pan, I also sprinkle the bottom of the pan with cornmeal, then press the dough onto the pan with wet hands and smooth out. Cover lightly and let rise for about 20 minutes.
5. Sprinkle uncooked crust with parmesan cheese and garlic powder if desired.
6. Cook about 12 minutes or until golden and not shiny.
7. Remove and add toppings.
8. Bake an additional 7-10 minutes. Just keep a close eye on it, the cheese will melt and edges will get a darker brown.
I make about a 16 inch large, you can also make two smaller and parbake one crust and freeze for later.
It's pretty good! The best gf pizza recipe I've made!
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Bread Wars
My baking career started in the spring of 7th grade in Home Economics with Ms. Candy Sober. (I have her to thank for teaching me how to spoon and scrape for an accurate measurement of dry ingredients, which really comes in handy when baking with heavier gluten free flours.) We made biscuits, and mine turned out pretty tasty in class. However, when I tried to make them at home, the story had a much less delicious ending...
The Scene: Our kitchen on Kraft Lane. The Year: 1996 (In the background you can hear Aeroplane by Foo Fighters playing on 101X...)
Lindsay (to herself) - "Baking powder or baking soda? Hmm, sounds the same. Now was that supposed to be teaspoons or tablespoons? Oh well, more is always better!"
I have come a long way from those salty, dense, nasty little rocks. Poor Randy, I think I made him eat one. Sorry!
Anyway, I never would have guessed that I would one day be baking at least two, sometimes three loaves of bread a week from scratch. But I do.
To start this adventure, I bought a loaf of pre-made store bread at a very expensive natural food store. Because that's what you do when you are completely overwhelmed, you throw money at the problem.
The most popular GF sandwich bread is about $6 for a teeny little loaf of something like 10 slices. It's an 8"x4" loaf. And I think the predominant flour is tapioca flour, which makes me shudder, literally, to think about. It's kinda, um, squeaky in your teeth. I'm seriously still shuddering. Anyway, I figured, I don't have to eat it, and as long as Kate doesn't mind, I'll just buy it and send it for her school sandwich and we just won't ever eat bread again.
So that lasted about a month, but Kate didn't really like that bread either. It got soggy in her lunchbox and it was not good toasted. And I really wanted to eat a piece of toast or have a sandwich. We went to a friend's house for a GF play date. She baked a lovely little loaf of bread in her fancy shmancy Zogamathingie bread maker and I tried a piece. I could have cried, it was actually really good! So she shared the recipe with me, along with one other recipe.
http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2010/05/how-to-make-gluten-free-sandwich-bread-recipe.html
and
http://glutenfreemommy.com/baking-gluten-free-bread-millet-oatmeal-bread/
So I went home with Stephanie's recipes and little tips and dove in.
And I learned that I do not like the aftertaste of millet flour. It's a little metallic and a lot bitter, and it didn't help that it was the loaf when I forgot the xanthan gum. I had two little loaves of REALLY expensive brick-like bread that tasted good until you swallowed. So I never tried it again, but try it if you want! Some people LOVE millet, they all say it is so mild tasting, so maybe it's just me. Stephanie says this bread is her favorite.
So then I tried to make the first recipe and it was much more successful. And cheaper, easier, and totally kid/family friendly. Every time I made it I made little adjustments here and there, so here is my new and improved recipe as of today:
Lindsay's House GF Sandwich Bread- adapted from Elizabeth Barbone's Gluten Free sandwich bread recipe
Dry Ingredients
1 packet yeast (or 2 1/4 tsp)
1/2 tsp sugar (to proof the yeast, could use honey instead or omit)
2 cups brown rice flour
1/2 cup sorghum flour
2/3 cup dry milk powder (or dry milk substitute)
2/3 cup cornstarch
1 tbsp xanthan gum
1 tsp salt
1 tsp unflavored gelatin (sold in the boxed jello or the canning section, little boxes with 5-6 paper packets, each packet holds roughly 2 tsp.)
Wet Ingredients
1 3/4 cup warm water
1 whole egg
2 egg whites
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1. Run the tap water until hot and fill a small ovenproof bowl with hot water. Place in bottom rack of oven. Then turn on oven to 200 degrees. When temperature is reached, turn off the oven, keep the door closed.
2. While oven is heating, fill a 2 cup measuring cup to 1 3/4 cups with WARM water, not hot, you will kill your yeast. Around 105 degrees is good. Add yeast and sugar to water, then set aside. Your yeast should grow and foam if it is alive, if it does nothing, it's time for new yeast.
3.While your yeast is proofing, measure out the remaining dry ingredients into your mixing bowl. By now, your oven should be warm and steamy, which will help the bread rise. Don't forget to turn it off before your put your bread in the oven!
4.Turn your mixer on low to combine dry ingredients, then add in yeast mixture, egg and egg whites and oil. Mix all ingredients together on low until combined, then turn to medium high and beat for 5 minutes or until the batter looks like stretchy thick cake batter. If it looks too thick, add more water one tablespoon at a time. If it looks too thin, add more rice flour one tablespoon at a time.
5. Grease a 9x5 inch bread pan, then scrape the batter into the pan. It will be sticky. You can smooth it with a greased spatula to make it pretty, but I don't!
6. Place in muggy oven and cover lightly with a clean, lightweight dishtowel. Close the oven door and let rise for 1 hour. MAKE SURE YOUR OVEN IS OFF!
7. When bread is about an inch above the top of the pan, or about an hour later, remove the bread from the oven, keeping it covered. REMOVE THE BOWL OF WATER FROM THE BOTTOM RACK. Turn the oven on to 350 degrees, and when it is ready, remove the dishtowel and place in the oven.
8. Bake at 350 degrees for 55 minutes or until the internal temperature is 210 degrees. It should sound hollow if thumped. Remove from oven and immediately remove from pan to let cool. This will help keep it from getting soggy and give you a nice crust. I lay mine on its side on a wire rack.
*Let it cool completely or until a little warm to the touch before slicing or it will be crumbly. This is good for sandwiches, warm and cold, and toasted with butter. I really do love this bread!
*The gelatin is my newest addition. I'm trying to figure out what it is I like about it. I think it makes it a little fluffier, which also makes it a little more crumbly, but not in a bad way.
*Stephanie also adds a tablespoon or so of flax for fiber.
*You could probably substitute potato starch or tapioca starch (if that's your thing) for the cornstarch.
*Today I ran out of brown rice flour, so I used about 1 1/3 cups brown rice flour and 2/3 white rice flour. It turned out a little lighter and had a milder flavor.
*I have only ever made this with a stand mixer, if you use a hand mixer you will have to beat your ingredients longer to get the same results.
If anyone tries it, let me know how it turns out, and let me know if you have any suggestions.
The Scene: Our kitchen on Kraft Lane. The Year: 1996 (In the background you can hear Aeroplane by Foo Fighters playing on 101X...)
Lindsay (to herself) - "Baking powder or baking soda? Hmm, sounds the same. Now was that supposed to be teaspoons or tablespoons? Oh well, more is always better!"
I have come a long way from those salty, dense, nasty little rocks. Poor Randy, I think I made him eat one. Sorry!
Anyway, I never would have guessed that I would one day be baking at least two, sometimes three loaves of bread a week from scratch. But I do.
To start this adventure, I bought a loaf of pre-made store bread at a very expensive natural food store. Because that's what you do when you are completely overwhelmed, you throw money at the problem.
The most popular GF sandwich bread is about $6 for a teeny little loaf of something like 10 slices. It's an 8"x4" loaf. And I think the predominant flour is tapioca flour, which makes me shudder, literally, to think about. It's kinda, um, squeaky in your teeth. I'm seriously still shuddering. Anyway, I figured, I don't have to eat it, and as long as Kate doesn't mind, I'll just buy it and send it for her school sandwich and we just won't ever eat bread again.
So that lasted about a month, but Kate didn't really like that bread either. It got soggy in her lunchbox and it was not good toasted. And I really wanted to eat a piece of toast or have a sandwich. We went to a friend's house for a GF play date. She baked a lovely little loaf of bread in her fancy shmancy Zogamathingie bread maker and I tried a piece. I could have cried, it was actually really good! So she shared the recipe with me, along with one other recipe.
http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2010/05/how-to-make-gluten-free-sandwich-bread-recipe.html
and
http://glutenfreemommy.com/baking-gluten-free-bread-millet-oatmeal-bread/
So I went home with Stephanie's recipes and little tips and dove in.
And I learned that I do not like the aftertaste of millet flour. It's a little metallic and a lot bitter, and it didn't help that it was the loaf when I forgot the xanthan gum. I had two little loaves of REALLY expensive brick-like bread that tasted good until you swallowed. So I never tried it again, but try it if you want! Some people LOVE millet, they all say it is so mild tasting, so maybe it's just me. Stephanie says this bread is her favorite.
So then I tried to make the first recipe and it was much more successful. And cheaper, easier, and totally kid/family friendly. Every time I made it I made little adjustments here and there, so here is my new and improved recipe as of today:
Lindsay's House GF Sandwich Bread- adapted from Elizabeth Barbone's Gluten Free sandwich bread recipe
Dry Ingredients
1 packet yeast (or 2 1/4 tsp)
1/2 tsp sugar (to proof the yeast, could use honey instead or omit)
2 cups brown rice flour
1/2 cup sorghum flour
2/3 cup dry milk powder (or dry milk substitute)
2/3 cup cornstarch
1 tbsp xanthan gum
1 tsp salt
1 tsp unflavored gelatin (sold in the boxed jello or the canning section, little boxes with 5-6 paper packets, each packet holds roughly 2 tsp.)
Wet Ingredients
1 3/4 cup warm water
1 whole egg
2 egg whites
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1. Run the tap water until hot and fill a small ovenproof bowl with hot water. Place in bottom rack of oven. Then turn on oven to 200 degrees. When temperature is reached, turn off the oven, keep the door closed.
2. While oven is heating, fill a 2 cup measuring cup to 1 3/4 cups with WARM water, not hot, you will kill your yeast. Around 105 degrees is good. Add yeast and sugar to water, then set aside. Your yeast should grow and foam if it is alive, if it does nothing, it's time for new yeast.
3.While your yeast is proofing, measure out the remaining dry ingredients into your mixing bowl. By now, your oven should be warm and steamy, which will help the bread rise. Don't forget to turn it off before your put your bread in the oven!
4.Turn your mixer on low to combine dry ingredients, then add in yeast mixture, egg and egg whites and oil. Mix all ingredients together on low until combined, then turn to medium high and beat for 5 minutes or until the batter looks like stretchy thick cake batter. If it looks too thick, add more water one tablespoon at a time. If it looks too thin, add more rice flour one tablespoon at a time.
5. Grease a 9x5 inch bread pan, then scrape the batter into the pan. It will be sticky. You can smooth it with a greased spatula to make it pretty, but I don't!
6. Place in muggy oven and cover lightly with a clean, lightweight dishtowel. Close the oven door and let rise for 1 hour. MAKE SURE YOUR OVEN IS OFF!
7. When bread is about an inch above the top of the pan, or about an hour later, remove the bread from the oven, keeping it covered. REMOVE THE BOWL OF WATER FROM THE BOTTOM RACK. Turn the oven on to 350 degrees, and when it is ready, remove the dishtowel and place in the oven.
8. Bake at 350 degrees for 55 minutes or until the internal temperature is 210 degrees. It should sound hollow if thumped. Remove from oven and immediately remove from pan to let cool. This will help keep it from getting soggy and give you a nice crust. I lay mine on its side on a wire rack.
*Let it cool completely or until a little warm to the touch before slicing or it will be crumbly. This is good for sandwiches, warm and cold, and toasted with butter. I really do love this bread!
*The gelatin is my newest addition. I'm trying to figure out what it is I like about it. I think it makes it a little fluffier, which also makes it a little more crumbly, but not in a bad way.
*Stephanie also adds a tablespoon or so of flax for fiber.
*You could probably substitute potato starch or tapioca starch (if that's your thing) for the cornstarch.
*Today I ran out of brown rice flour, so I used about 1 1/3 cups brown rice flour and 2/3 white rice flour. It turned out a little lighter and had a milder flavor.
*I have only ever made this with a stand mixer, if you use a hand mixer you will have to beat your ingredients longer to get the same results.
If anyone tries it, let me know how it turns out, and let me know if you have any suggestions.
The Still, Small Voice
"Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory." - Psalms 73:23-24
Have you ever had a problem that just baffles you? You know there is something wrong and no matter what you do, you just can't figure out how to fix it or where to turn. And then, in an instant, you pursue a totally different path and things just start easily falling into place. You experience a sense of peace and you think, "Man, I am so smart. I am so glad I followed my intuition, my gut feeling was so right." You give yourself a little pat on the back.
Are we giving credit where credit is due? Have we miraculously gained intelligence? Or is something else at play here, something outside of us?
I had this experience a few months ago. Kate was exceptionally irritable and disobedient, and we felt like we had tried everything. We had taken away toys, yelled, taken away story time, stripped her room, spanked her bottom, put her in timeout, threatened to pull her out of her favorite activities. Nothing seemed to make an impression. She would be sad, and then she would do it again. One day, when I was about to flip my lid, a little thought popped into my head.
"What about positive reinforcement?"
What? Where did that come from? It was so completely opposite of my frame of mind, it literally stopped me in my tracks. I was in the process of going up the stairs to strip her room for the umpteenth time, and I turned around, picked up my crying, angry, upset three year old, put her in my lap and hugged her until we both calmed down. And that was the turning of a page.
I think these moments of divine intervention come from us being at our wit's end, knowing we can't keep following the current path. If we see our little ones about to fall, we reach down and grab them, pulling them out of danger. God sees us struggling and reaches out, giving us guidance, comfort, peace or passion. The Amy Grant song, "Better Than a Hallelujah," illustrates this so well, "We pour out our miseries, God just hears a melody. Beautiful, the mess we are, the honest cries of breaking hearts are better than a hallelujah." God hears these cries and helps us through these low times.
Be vigilant. The words that you hear in the midst of the chatter of life can be coming from you, your friends, or maybe "experts." Your thoughts could be influenced by negativity, which comes from Satan, or they could be positive, which obviously comes from God. We sometimes overlook or overthink these little flashes of wisdom, or we ignore them and give in to our temper. Listen for that still, small voice.
My Aunt Sallie, who is an amazing woman, mother, and minister, takes opportunities to "unplug." She has a busy life with an active church, six children ranging in age from 25 to 4, and a heart split on two continents, one-half in her community and one-half in Burundi. She deserves downtime, don't we all! She will take a cup of tea, go to a quiet bench in the park, leave her phone in the car, and just be. She doesn't really think about things, she just is. This time for herself is time alone with God.
Maybe you can't take an hour, maybe you can only take five minutes. Be still yourself, clear thoughts of daily responsibilities, feelings of guilt or negativity away, and just listen.
Habakkuk 2:1 says, "I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint."
How does God speak to you? Is it a sudden thought? Do you hear actual words or just feel compelled into action?
Dear God, we thank You for Your guidance and for hearing our cries. Please help us follow You and thank You for the many blessings that we have been given. In Your Holy Name we pray, amen.
Have you ever had a problem that just baffles you? You know there is something wrong and no matter what you do, you just can't figure out how to fix it or where to turn. And then, in an instant, you pursue a totally different path and things just start easily falling into place. You experience a sense of peace and you think, "Man, I am so smart. I am so glad I followed my intuition, my gut feeling was so right." You give yourself a little pat on the back.
Are we giving credit where credit is due? Have we miraculously gained intelligence? Or is something else at play here, something outside of us?
I had this experience a few months ago. Kate was exceptionally irritable and disobedient, and we felt like we had tried everything. We had taken away toys, yelled, taken away story time, stripped her room, spanked her bottom, put her in timeout, threatened to pull her out of her favorite activities. Nothing seemed to make an impression. She would be sad, and then she would do it again. One day, when I was about to flip my lid, a little thought popped into my head.
"What about positive reinforcement?"
What? Where did that come from? It was so completely opposite of my frame of mind, it literally stopped me in my tracks. I was in the process of going up the stairs to strip her room for the umpteenth time, and I turned around, picked up my crying, angry, upset three year old, put her in my lap and hugged her until we both calmed down. And that was the turning of a page.
I think these moments of divine intervention come from us being at our wit's end, knowing we can't keep following the current path. If we see our little ones about to fall, we reach down and grab them, pulling them out of danger. God sees us struggling and reaches out, giving us guidance, comfort, peace or passion. The Amy Grant song, "Better Than a Hallelujah," illustrates this so well, "We pour out our miseries, God just hears a melody. Beautiful, the mess we are, the honest cries of breaking hearts are better than a hallelujah." God hears these cries and helps us through these low times.
Be vigilant. The words that you hear in the midst of the chatter of life can be coming from you, your friends, or maybe "experts." Your thoughts could be influenced by negativity, which comes from Satan, or they could be positive, which obviously comes from God. We sometimes overlook or overthink these little flashes of wisdom, or we ignore them and give in to our temper. Listen for that still, small voice.
My Aunt Sallie, who is an amazing woman, mother, and minister, takes opportunities to "unplug." She has a busy life with an active church, six children ranging in age from 25 to 4, and a heart split on two continents, one-half in her community and one-half in Burundi. She deserves downtime, don't we all! She will take a cup of tea, go to a quiet bench in the park, leave her phone in the car, and just be. She doesn't really think about things, she just is. This time for herself is time alone with God.
Maybe you can't take an hour, maybe you can only take five minutes. Be still yourself, clear thoughts of daily responsibilities, feelings of guilt or negativity away, and just listen.
Habakkuk 2:1 says, "I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint."
How does God speak to you? Is it a sudden thought? Do you hear actual words or just feel compelled into action?
Dear God, we thank You for Your guidance and for hearing our cries. Please help us follow You and thank You for the many blessings that we have been given. In Your Holy Name we pray, amen.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
For Those Of Us Who Are Always Right
"Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." - Ephesians 5:21
This weekend I had the pleasure of driving during five o'clock traffic in North Dallas. At the busy interchange of George Bush Turnpike and the North Dallas Tollway, the east and westbound traffic coming from the Turnpike come together before entering the Tollway. At the junction where these two groups meet is a yellow road sign with two conjoined arrows and the word, "Merge."
And the amazing thing is, mostly everyone did. Here in Houston, there would probably have been some serious road rage going on, but the commuters yielded to one another, kept the flow of traffic moving, and the collective blood pressure relatively low. Occasionally, someone would not want to yield to the other lane, but for the most part, everyone took turns. Incredible.
Submission is not a comfortable state for most of us. We do not want to be in a position of submission, we want to be in a position of power. We do not want to find ourselves suddenly having to answer for what we have done. Sometimes this means breaking the rules or ignoring directions.
God's directions and rules are about as blatant as a yellow and black road sign that says, "MERGE." There they all are in black and white, and yet we question them and place our own translation on them. We push the limits, we toe the line. Then our hearts ask us, "What do you think you are doing?!"
We are human, imperfect, selfish. We see the word, "SUBMIT" and we think of servitude. But in this relationship with each other, we are to submit, not in the spirit of obedience, but by yielding to one another. It keeps us moving. It prevents deadlock.
How many times have I found myself resisting submission? In my relationships with friends, I have had times when I refuse to see their point of view, and eventually, sadly, the friendship is lost. In a battle of wills with my two year old, I find myself in a competition to see who can yell the loudest. Not very productive! And don't get me started on what happens when an immoveable mass marries an unstoppable force.
How is this life sustaining? How can this constant turmoil be good for me, for my family? Our stubborn natures collide, we find ourselves in a stalemate, and nothing is accomplished.
James 3:17-18 says, "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness."
This sounds like the description of my adored kindergarten teacher, Ms. Jana Harkins, or my sweet Nanny, Beth. How did they get there? They learned to MERGE. They learned to pick their battles. We are on our way, we are just not quite there yet. Each day is a new opportunity for us to sow in peace.
Dear God, please help us to be peacemakers in our homes. Help us yield our stubborn natures so that we may have spirit of submission in honor of you. AMEN!
This weekend I had the pleasure of driving during five o'clock traffic in North Dallas. At the busy interchange of George Bush Turnpike and the North Dallas Tollway, the east and westbound traffic coming from the Turnpike come together before entering the Tollway. At the junction where these two groups meet is a yellow road sign with two conjoined arrows and the word, "Merge."
And the amazing thing is, mostly everyone did. Here in Houston, there would probably have been some serious road rage going on, but the commuters yielded to one another, kept the flow of traffic moving, and the collective blood pressure relatively low. Occasionally, someone would not want to yield to the other lane, but for the most part, everyone took turns. Incredible.
Submission is not a comfortable state for most of us. We do not want to be in a position of submission, we want to be in a position of power. We do not want to find ourselves suddenly having to answer for what we have done. Sometimes this means breaking the rules or ignoring directions.
God's directions and rules are about as blatant as a yellow and black road sign that says, "MERGE." There they all are in black and white, and yet we question them and place our own translation on them. We push the limits, we toe the line. Then our hearts ask us, "What do you think you are doing?!"
We are human, imperfect, selfish. We see the word, "SUBMIT" and we think of servitude. But in this relationship with each other, we are to submit, not in the spirit of obedience, but by yielding to one another. It keeps us moving. It prevents deadlock.
How many times have I found myself resisting submission? In my relationships with friends, I have had times when I refuse to see their point of view, and eventually, sadly, the friendship is lost. In a battle of wills with my two year old, I find myself in a competition to see who can yell the loudest. Not very productive! And don't get me started on what happens when an immoveable mass marries an unstoppable force.
How is this life sustaining? How can this constant turmoil be good for me, for my family? Our stubborn natures collide, we find ourselves in a stalemate, and nothing is accomplished.
James 3:17-18 says, "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness."
This sounds like the description of my adored kindergarten teacher, Ms. Jana Harkins, or my sweet Nanny, Beth. How did they get there? They learned to MERGE. They learned to pick their battles. We are on our way, we are just not quite there yet. Each day is a new opportunity for us to sow in peace.
Dear God, please help us to be peacemakers in our homes. Help us yield our stubborn natures so that we may have spirit of submission in honor of you. AMEN!
Monday, September 12, 2011
A Father's Love
"The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." - Zephaniah 3:17
The image I have in my mind when I read this scripture is that of a big, strong father holding his newborn child. The child is upset, the father is soothing the child patiently and gazing at this tiny, angry bundle with absolute adoration.
Infinite patience, immeasurable love, complete joy.
My patience is never what I want it to be. I was always asking God for help with patience until I read an article in which the mother being interviewed said that when we pray for patience, God gives us situations in which we can practice our patience. Not exactly what I was asking for! I have found myself to be more patient as the years pass, so maybe by the time I'm 70, I will have the patience required to raise a family! But patience is a kind of faith. It is faith that the next moment can be better than this one, and so if we can hold on just one more moment, and then another, then we may experience the patience we have asked for.
Our love for our children can be overwhelming. I remember looking at Kate as a newborn and feeling like my heart had grown too big for my chest. I just loved this little wonder so much, it didn't seem possible that there was room in my heart for anything else. And then Brooke came along and there was even more! I think of my own mother and father, who love me, but still fail me at times. We are told that as much as we love our children, God loves us even more. How comforting to know that even when our parents are incapable of soothing our hurts, God's love will sustain us.
We sing a lot at our house and we always have. My mom made up little songs all the time about whatever we were doing, and I have done the same thing with my girls. Now Kate does it, too. We just love to sing! When we find ourselves singing is usually when we are at our happiest. Reading that God rejoices over me with singing again brings to mind the delighted parent, just pleased as punch with His beautiful children. He watches us with delight as we make our way through life and sings at the moments when we bring Him joy, when we are living our lives to His glory and raising our children to follow Him.
"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." - Ephesians 3:16-19
What makes you sing? How can you be an example of God's love in the life of someone who needs it? What can you do to be more patient with your spouse, your children, or yourself?
The image I have in my mind when I read this scripture is that of a big, strong father holding his newborn child. The child is upset, the father is soothing the child patiently and gazing at this tiny, angry bundle with absolute adoration.
Infinite patience, immeasurable love, complete joy.
My patience is never what I want it to be. I was always asking God for help with patience until I read an article in which the mother being interviewed said that when we pray for patience, God gives us situations in which we can practice our patience. Not exactly what I was asking for! I have found myself to be more patient as the years pass, so maybe by the time I'm 70, I will have the patience required to raise a family! But patience is a kind of faith. It is faith that the next moment can be better than this one, and so if we can hold on just one more moment, and then another, then we may experience the patience we have asked for.
Our love for our children can be overwhelming. I remember looking at Kate as a newborn and feeling like my heart had grown too big for my chest. I just loved this little wonder so much, it didn't seem possible that there was room in my heart for anything else. And then Brooke came along and there was even more! I think of my own mother and father, who love me, but still fail me at times. We are told that as much as we love our children, God loves us even more. How comforting to know that even when our parents are incapable of soothing our hurts, God's love will sustain us.
We sing a lot at our house and we always have. My mom made up little songs all the time about whatever we were doing, and I have done the same thing with my girls. Now Kate does it, too. We just love to sing! When we find ourselves singing is usually when we are at our happiest. Reading that God rejoices over me with singing again brings to mind the delighted parent, just pleased as punch with His beautiful children. He watches us with delight as we make our way through life and sings at the moments when we bring Him joy, when we are living our lives to His glory and raising our children to follow Him.
"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." - Ephesians 3:16-19
What makes you sing? How can you be an example of God's love in the life of someone who needs it? What can you do to be more patient with your spouse, your children, or yourself?
New Day
I'm writing devotionals for my mom's group at church, probably for the next month. It has been my creative outlet and I am learning more about my faith as I write. Here's yesterday's:
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." - Isaiah 43:18-19
Today is an important day in our nation. We remember the events of September 11, 2001 and all of the destruction that has occurred as a result of those terrorist attacks. We should never forget the people who died that day nor the heroism of the victims and the survivors. Their names will be written in history books.
But that's not really what inspired this devotional. The past that I'm dwelling on today was stirred up by a picture of a wedding in Austin this weekend.
A man I have known since we were four years old (which is really weird considering I have a four year old!) got married yesterday, and his wedding was attended by several other people that I have known for most of my life. They took a picture of this group at the reception and posted it on Facebook. Ah, Facebook, the perpetual high school reunion.
Looking at this picture, I suddenly had these thoughts of, "What might have happened if..." If I had dated that one boy, even though my so called friends would have made fun of me. If I had gone to a different college. If I had stayed working with this group of people instead of moving on to a different job that summer, maybe I would have been in that picture.
It can be dangerous to dwell on the past. If this, then that, but where do we end up? If that terrorist had missed that flight, then what? If I had gone to a different college, then what?
This is an age old concept, the idea of the road not taken. The problem with the "road not taken" exercise when you are married with children is that it erases those faces. And who am I if I am not Tommy's wife and Kate and Brooke's mother?
The reality is that the hypothetical "road not taken" doesn't exist. We live at the intersection of Destiny Road and Free Will Avenue. The choices we make along the way dictate the life we live, but God's role shouldn't be ignored. He wants us to look to the future, not to the past, no matter if it is a past filled with happiness and promise or a past filled with sadness and regret.
Jeremiah 29:11-13 says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
So God doesn't want us living this life that He has given us with one foot in the present and one in the past. He wants us living in today and seeking Him! We need to let go of the "what if" and the "I wish" so that we can truly seek God with all our heart and receive the blessings that He has shared with us.
What are you grateful for in your life today? What choices can you make today to have a positive impact on your family's future? What things in the past can you let go of so that you can start seeking God with all of your heart?
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." - Isaiah 43:18-19
Today is an important day in our nation. We remember the events of September 11, 2001 and all of the destruction that has occurred as a result of those terrorist attacks. We should never forget the people who died that day nor the heroism of the victims and the survivors. Their names will be written in history books.
But that's not really what inspired this devotional. The past that I'm dwelling on today was stirred up by a picture of a wedding in Austin this weekend.
A man I have known since we were four years old (which is really weird considering I have a four year old!) got married yesterday, and his wedding was attended by several other people that I have known for most of my life. They took a picture of this group at the reception and posted it on Facebook. Ah, Facebook, the perpetual high school reunion.
Looking at this picture, I suddenly had these thoughts of, "What might have happened if..." If I had dated that one boy, even though my so called friends would have made fun of me. If I had gone to a different college. If I had stayed working with this group of people instead of moving on to a different job that summer, maybe I would have been in that picture.
It can be dangerous to dwell on the past. If this, then that, but where do we end up? If that terrorist had missed that flight, then what? If I had gone to a different college, then what?
This is an age old concept, the idea of the road not taken. The problem with the "road not taken" exercise when you are married with children is that it erases those faces. And who am I if I am not Tommy's wife and Kate and Brooke's mother?
The reality is that the hypothetical "road not taken" doesn't exist. We live at the intersection of Destiny Road and Free Will Avenue. The choices we make along the way dictate the life we live, but God's role shouldn't be ignored. He wants us to look to the future, not to the past, no matter if it is a past filled with happiness and promise or a past filled with sadness and regret.
Jeremiah 29:11-13 says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
So God doesn't want us living this life that He has given us with one foot in the present and one in the past. He wants us living in today and seeking Him! We need to let go of the "what if" and the "I wish" so that we can truly seek God with all our heart and receive the blessings that He has shared with us.
What are you grateful for in your life today? What choices can you make today to have a positive impact on your family's future? What things in the past can you let go of so that you can start seeking God with all of your heart?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)